You never know when the rut is going to start. Here in southeastern Wyoming they still have not started bugling. I was out yesterday all day and night and herd nothing. Usually but not always a cold snap will trigger the rut. If you go out every weekend you will know when the rut has started. They go crazy. Sometime here in Wyoming they are still at the end of the rut when rifle season starts which is mid October. So the answer to your question is sometime in September or October. You never know but just hope you are out there when it does.

Southfacing slopes can be a clearcut or even a bare slope. I have seen them both used as long is there is good feed there.

Good luck to you there beause as of the first week of the season here I am not having any.