RE: VIRGINIA RUT WATCH!
We are in the pre-rut right now. Bucks primary concern right now is still food as they bulk up their bodies on fats, carbs and starches gearing themselves up for the rut. Most rubs that are being seen now are merely territorial rubs. Bucks testosterone levels are increasing but still weeks away from peeking and the rubs and scrapes being made now are establishing pecking order and dominance rank.
Also- the cold weather has absolutely no effect on the timing of the rut- the timing of the rut is controlled by the moon. Cool weather merely stimulates more daytime rutting activity. When temps are above normal or seasonal the majority of rutting activity will take place at night.
We are just a little less than a month from the rutting moon. I believe it falls on November 13th this year, give or take a day. This late moon will result in a compact more frenzied rut. As a I said before bucks testosterone levels are climbing but far from peaking. As a general rule bucks testosterone levels usually peak around November 1st. Young bucks are acting foolishly this time due to their ignorance. This is their first year they are biologically able to breed and they are not quite sure why does are smelling sweeter and sweeter every day. Which brings me to my next point- I remember someone saying that does have not come into estrous yet that is false. In fact many mature does usually come into estrous during the second week of October. It takes little time for the mature bucks to track down these first does in heat and he quickly breeds her. The next cycle of does will come into estrous about 28 days later with the period in between commonly known as the October lull.