I'm not absolutely sure because I'm no expert but I think there's something wrong with that. I'll use my part of Wisconsin as an example... Last year, there were scrapes and rubs all over the place near the end of October. From last year to this year, the buck/doe ratio couldn't have changed that much. Yet, this year rubs and scrapes are just starting to appear in decent numbers. This seemingly disproves your theory. Last year there were also deer littered all over the highways in the4-5 days proceeding the rutting moon. Once again, suggestive that the moon might have a bigger affect on the rut than some of us want to believe.

If I'm wrong or off-base someone please school me. I'm learning just like everyone else. You know, It would be nice if I could locate deer/car accident reports statisticsand cross reference those dates to the hunter's moon of decades passed. I think that should make a believe out of some.

I am no expert but if some of my prior posts could be brought up I have always maintained that somewhere between the 10th-12th is usually the peak days of the rut at least for me. I notice bucks still trailing does and little chasing going on. I haven't even heard a buck grunting yet.

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Late is a relative term. I truly think the moon is a major component in syncing the rut. Weather and climate are significant players also. Here in the northeast it has been warm, and the rutting moon is this week as previously mentioned.

Last year at this time the seeking phase had already begun and had merged into the chasing phase. I hunted tonight and noticed no rut activity. There has been some already but just spurts. When I drive at night and see bucks on the move crossing roads I know it's on. I ain't seeing it, yet. Not everywhere anyway.

I think for the northeast it will really kick in this week andthe week afterwill be intense. We need the cool weahther though if we wanna see this during the daytime. imo

I huntedalmost all day today except for an hour around noon. None of the does we saw (a total of 6) had bucks chasing them. Ourreasoning for not seeing any mature bucks is, if the does aren't ready the bucks will sit in the corn getting fat cause they know once it starts, watch out.We are seeing loads of immature bucks because they just don't know any better. Thats just my thinking. Also where we hunt, they started cutting last week. About 12% done, while almost all the properties around us have not started yet. As long as there is standing corn, thats where the deer will be...
Forgot to mention it was a little on the windy side today, but once again our thinking was, if it's on the wind won't bother em...

I hunt 2 properties in SE Iowa. On one property the bucks were chasing does 2 weeks ago and last week my youngest brother took a doe that was full blown estrous. (his first bowkill) However the property I mailnly hunt Ive been paying close attention to the does and the tarsal glands are still white as snow. Ive rattled in a couple small bucks but the big boys just walk past the does and pay no attention to the rattling or grunting. Im still finding fresh rubs around there too. Its only 15 miles west of where the actions taking place but right now its still prerut happening there. It makes no sense to me.