RE: What is "Peak Rut" ?
Interesting stuff there. What I personally see in NW Montana is that the week of "peak rut" is way worse for hunting than the week after or the week before. Our peak would be roughly 15-25 Nov. I've taken 7 bucks of 3 1/2 years old or older the last eight years, four from 11-14 Nov. and 3 after the 21st. What I find during the peak period is lots of little bucks running around like crazy with big bucks seldom seen. Why? Because the big boys all seem to have an estrous doe back on some impossible steep, brushy slope.
After "peak rut", when the supply of hot does begins to wane a little bit is when I seem to see more big bucks out running crazy, seemingly trying to get one more piece before it all comes to an end.
My vacation this year is split to avoid "peak rut". I'll be off 9-17 Nov, then work 18-22Nov., then back at it from the 23rd on.