Drox, I have noticed the last few years in NOVA that the "rut" goes on for awhile. I think it mainly has to do with so many does that the bucks can't breed them all during the traditional rut time frame. For example, I watched two 8 pointers last year fighting, scraping, and saw 5 bucks all with antlers still attached last year on the President's Day holiday in Feb. I couldn't shoot any of them because it was during the late urban season but still. I truly believe you can employ rut tatics anytime after the first doe comes into estrus in NOVA. I hope to get out this Thursday in NOVA and will be grunting and bleating some. Good luck.