Depends upon your area, here in East Texas it starts in October, and reaches its peak in early November. South Texas, it is as late as December, and the further up north that you are, the earlier it will probably be.

Here in the southern tier of new york the rut starts late october, early november, farther up north where i also hunt it kicks in around mid to late november. I think it also depends on the weather too.

Alot of variables factor into when they come into estrous. And it depends on your location. Hear in Illinois I usually start to see chasing and scraping pick up the last few days of October. The actual rut is usually around the middle of November. Assuming we're talking about the same rut. I've always thought of the rut as the time when bucks are with the does actively breeding. To me, I would rather hunt the chasing phase. They move alot more and are more receptive to calling and rattling. When they are with does it is pretty much impossible to bring him in. You have to try to bring the doe in and hope he follows. I've been reading Hunting WHitetails by the Moon by Charles Alsheimer and its very interesting some of the ideas he has as to when it starts. Hopefully I'll find out if his ideas are true this coming season.

in illnois it is usually the middle of november. there is a website somewhere on the net that supposively shows you the exact days of rut. try doing a search on _____ state rut dates. fill in the line with your state

We were putting out some cameras yesterday (March 28) and found some fresh worked scrapes in South Alabama. Even had VERY fresh urine in them.

Here in Maine, the norm, (if there is such a thing), goes something like this:
-- pre-rut....October
-- full swing....mid November

Of course, rut sppressants can be a problem, like too much rain, wind, unseasonably warm weather, doe to buck ratios, etc.

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.

When the does come in heat the bucks are obliging. I've seen activity here in Ms as early as november and as late as feb. Then again their are different phases of the rut , we seem to be in full swing the last two
weeks of jan and the first of feb.

My experience in Central Mississippi has been that anywhere from December 15 -December 30 will be the best. Lots of bucks chasing does around the 20th