I'd also like to point to the article I posted and ask this question:

How does a state like TN have nearly half a million fewer deer(estimated), but every person I know that hunts in AL who also hunts in TN will tell me they see and harvest more deer on their properties in TN than in AL?

I believe it's because by the time the rut starts in TN, gun season has only been open for about 1-2 weeks in most places. By the time the rut starts in the majority of places in AL, gun season has been open for at least a month if not 2 months. Deer in TN don't have as much time to feel the pressure and pattern hunters like they do in this state due to the long continuous rifle season. This is why I think it would help to have a much more intensified focus on breaking up gun season into 2 parts in areas with a rut beginning later, and ending gun season early for places that have an earlier rut.