My top three bow kills were all before or after the rut even though I hunt my ass off during the rut too.

So in my experience the bigger bucks HAVEN'T been easier to kill during the rut.

But I really don't see whey a trophy hunter would purposely hunt at the times they fealt there would be alower chance? Isn't part of being a good hunter to be smart?

I don't think my bucks are MORE of a trophy because they weren't taken during the rut.