I keep hearing all these bowhunters talking about early November being the best time due to the rut, but I surely have seen way more deer early to mid October while I was out turkey hunting or bowhunting during the first week or so of the season. The deer are totally unspooked at this time compared to later in the season. I have even seen bucks still in their bachelor groups in October before the rut starts kicking in. Nothing like having several bucks coming at you all in a row! If one were allowed to gun hunt in October it would be a snap compared to the normal season where they have been harassed for a month or more already.