I think the rut is codependent on where youare sitting that day for this time of year. We are not seeing much chasing...more or less scent checking because one or 2 does have poped and got the boys thinking. Down the road a half mile our co-hunters have seen a big boy or 2 dogging does already...but we are still a week or so away fromthe full blown thing. I took the rest of this week off and most of the next month off for this reason. I think he has gotten to smell a little estrous by now and wants to come to my can since the real thing is still few and far between. With the warm temps I wait for a good wind and snuggle up to a bedding area and try to call him out. Worked in the past and hopefully it will work in the next few days as well. Sorry for the rambling...but I get excited when speaking of the pre rut/rut...greatest thing in the world...well tied with a tom sounding off on a cold March morning.