What is the general thought on the rut this season? I hear that the full moon should be around the 26-27 of Oct but where does that put the chase phase and the peak?

Personally, I don't belive it has anything to do with the moon phase.

when the weather is right....my opinion of intensity of rut influences: moon - 30%, weather - 50% influences unknown and unpredictableto me - 20%

I just try and get out whenever there is no or little moon. Not too worried about the rut.

The rut will be the same time it is every year. However, how much activity takes place during the day can be affected bye the moon & weather, buck/doe ratios etc.

I'm not convinced on the moon theory yet but I think weather has alot to do with it. Last year in Minnesota we were hunting in tee shirts the Sunday of opening weekend with our riffle's I truely believe this shut down deer movement in turn stopping the rut. I like reading about the rut but it still boils down to being in the woods regaurdless if you think the rut is on or not because you can't shoot something from the couch (I'm sure someone can but not me). I will say the best hunting I've ever had was about 6 years ago and it was -10 below opening morning I shot 2 deer opening weekend and saw more deer in those 2 days than ever before. I pray for cold weather on the opener of riffle season.

If you're looking to take time off of work this year for the rut, take off the first full work week in November!!!

I think that's verygood advice!

I heard that this year, the best times to be in the woods would be starting on Oct 26th - the full moon.

I used to hate the full moon for hunting since I never saw anything on the mornings following one. However, during the rut, it's a different story. I've killed2 very nice bucks over the past 3 years the morning following the full moon . . . both were following does at the time.

I'm probably the only fool sold on moon phase hunting but 8 Popes I' ve shot during the 3 days before and 7 days after the full moon have convinced me. Also, 2003 was a classic example.Full moon was around the 13th(don't quote me) and weather was still warm but I saw BIG buck just about every hunt and they were seeking does like mad. Last season was similiar, the switch turned on around the 8th of Nov. The full moon was in that time period.