Originally Posted by
uncle matt
I agree that the rut was very strange. In some areas it was almost like there was no rut!
I'm of the opinion that we as hunters have a big impact on the rut. I think that during the daylight hours we see maybe 10% of what actually goes on in a 24 hr period. The rut period is what IMO hunters usually plan their trips around, when crunched for time (work, money, family) so more hunters in the woods during the day curtails daytime activity due to stink, noise, pressure. I believe the "rut" comes approx. the same time every year, older bucks become active when they feel safe. Night, no stink, noise, hunter activity, their senses are pretty sharp they know when the woods are full and when it isn't.