The "rut" refers to bucks and the biological defintion means that a buck is technically in the rut as soon as they lose thier velvet. The male hormone is raging and the antlers harden. The does may not be in "estrous" yet (guaranteed they are not) and so the bucks are just jockying for position at this point. Making rubs and scrapes and getting in scraps with other bucks.

There is a lot of debate that says the does go in "estrous" due to region, weather, and length of day and also possibly populations issues as well. They definitley vary depending on where you are.

I prefer to focus on the first point. As soon as those boys lose the velevet they start to focus on one thing. Spend you time learning all about the pre-rut and before you know it you'll know exactly when the does come alive with love where you are.