I'll add what little I know about it to the subject. I personally have done better outside of the rut. I don't know if its the terrain I hunt or what, but its the fact. I hunt alot like Demp described, on the edge of their bedding areas. Knowing how mature deer use the terrain to navigate their way to and from them is a plus. You've all heard 2dogs and others say pretty woods aint where to find them and its the truth. The places I go, you could barely sling a beagle dog thru or its so steep you risk breaking a leg to get there. I think there's certain mornings when you can almost guarantee a buck will be late getting back to bed. If you know EXACTLY where he's bedding, you can set up on a marginal wind to where he thinks he's safe as he's smelling everything before he gets there. I don't hunt these types of places but 2 maybe 3 times a year because most of the time, I'm having to cross his trail somewhere and double back to where I think he's coming from. If he don't come thru the day I'm in there, I go on to the next place when I go again.