I could probably say without hesitation that it probably is. But you also have to consider the fact that there 2 to even 3 ruts. The 1st, being the most intense one, that we all refer to is the one that comes around mid-November, and the second rut, which comes around mid December. You can't really compare the two though since the second is considerably less intense than the Nov rut. I've heard that there is even a very small 3rd rut that comes through in mid January, but I may be wrong. I suppose it wouldn't matter because the season is closed at that point anyway. Whereabouts in NW NC do you hunt? I hunt in the Iredell-Rowan county area.