Charles Alsheimer has written some excellent articles
in regards to rutting activity. I have read his predictions
the past few years and must admit, I now pay much
closer atttention to the moon's phases. That being
said, most of us base our opinion on the type of
rut going on by the amount of activity that's
gone on while we're on stand. Some of my
best years have occured during so called "poor
rut years", I just happened to be in the right place
at the right time - not on the couch. This year
was supposed to be great for rutting activity -
for me, it was the slowest rut in the last 5 years.
However, if you talked to my 2 bowhunting partners
they would tell you it was the best in the last
5 years. Though we were often less than a few
hundred yards apart, our seasons were as opposite
as you can get...that's hunting[&:]. That's also why
I'm gathering my cold weather gear in preparation
for the late bow season Dec. 22.

After all that, I guess I could have just said predictions
are a nice conversation piece, and possibly, something
to look forward to, but they are certainly not a
guarantee.