Just did some quick calculations based on an article by Drury and here's what I've found the phases to look like this year:

Pre-Rut
9/26 - 10/21

Seeking Phase
10/24 - 11/1

Chase Phase
10/30 - 11/8

Breeding Phase
11/4 - 11/18

Brief Second Rut
Around 12/8

These are approximate, of course, but they're based on moon phases and I found last year's calculation corresponded with last year's activity pretty well.

Here's the article for those who don't have it from last year's post:

Autumnal Equinox: The first day of fall, when there are 12-hours of light and
12-hours of darkness.

Pre-Rut Moon: The Harvest Moon, or the first full moon after the fall equinox.
Pre Rut begins a couple of days before the Pre Rut Moon and ends seven days
before the Rutting Moon..

· Hunt food sources, stay out of Rut Hot-Spots.
· Bucks are still travelling in Bachelor Groups.
· Rattling is more likely to produce subordinate bucks.
· Roughly 10% of the does come into estrus around the pre-rut moon.

Rutting Moon: Sometimes called the Hunter's Moon, the second full moon after
the fall equinox. This begins the Chase Phase, which last through the third
quarter.

· If the Rutting Moon falls during the first eight days of November, the
Rut's intensity is greater.
· Shift attention to the Scrapes and Rub Lines.
· Rattling & calling works well, the more aggressive the better. Rattling
works best from a week before the rutting moon to about the third
phase of the moon.

Seeking Phase: Begins three to four days before the rutting moon and ends two
to three days after, and is characterized by intense scraping.

Chase Phase: Begins two days after the Rutting Moon, and lasts three to four
days into Breeding Phase, also characterized by intense scraping.

Breeding Phase: Begins seven days after the Rutting Moon and lasts 14-days,
scraping ends.

Post Rut: By this time 80-90% of the does are bred. Hunt food sources.
Roughly 28-days after the peak of the first rut, a smaller, second rut occurs.
· Most does are breed under a dark moon period. Based on an average
199-gestation period, most fawns are born within a day of the third quarter
moon.

According to Drury Outdoors' Videos, they plan their hunts when the moon is
falling in the morning or rising in the early afternoon (as well as when there
is a high pressure system).

The moon basically does the same thing the sun does. It rises (moonrise), gets
to it's highest/mid point (moon transit), falls and sets (moonset).

Thanks for sharing this mrfritz44.

Great post Fritz. Definately good info to keep in mind as the saeason progresses.

Thanks for the data

I printed this off and am going to share it with my hutting buddies

Are those dates averages..or just for their specific location?

Excellent information