RE: Theory: NJ rut earlier in season due to QDM
What I think triggers a rut is the temperature. Last year in my area the rut was right smack in the middle of the opening of the gun season in NY which was around November 17th or so. This was at least a week or two after the typical peak which is usually around the first week of November. Why was the rut later last year? Because it was a very mild fall. The leaves turned about two weeks after they did this year and other years. Why would the rut be earlier this year? Because it has been a rather cool fall. Many parts of the northeast have gotten a good amount of snow already also. I can assure you that QDM does absolutely nothing to effect the rut. It is nothing but management for bigger antlered deer and little else.