I like Rockytops advise about scouting the bachelor herds and setting up a few stands ib that area.

Also don' t over look some rut tactics in early octiber. Since my season has opened on Oct. 1 I have been very surprised at the amount of rut activity I have seen. I guess a few does will come into heat early and this gets things fired up

I rattled in one of my bucks last year on Oct. 2nd - a full month and a week from the full rut.