I typically call the rut a couple weeks after I start seeing rubs n scrapes which is usually 2nd to 3rd week in Oct, And my best hunting Where I see the most Deer has always been from the week before halloween till mid nov then I hardly see anything till after first week of Dec and then its sparatic. and yes temp plays a Major roll in daytime sightings

Always around Halloween is usually a safe bet.

I don’t hunt according to the moon...research has proved that it doesn’t have an effect on deer movement. But what I do think about the moon is it’s a factor. I think several factors like the weather temp, barometric pressure, shorter days, and moon light…etc all play in to affect and come together to make that magical time of year best time to hunt. Usually that end of Oct into first and second week November. Also seen years where the 2nd and 3rd week of November was prime time. Just depends on all the factors. Shoot, down in south Texas and Mexico, the rut is in full swing in February. If I had to choose one factor it would be the cold weather.