Lot of variables go in the mix as far as the rut. Trying to find a place with different age class deer to see the rut really happen is the hard part. An area I hunted growing up people just didn't let deer grow. On one 400 acre tract that family for years never shot a doe, but if it was legal antler wise it went down. The adjacent tract the guy said he couldn't shoot enough deer for his family, they lived off venison. One year I fed the deer all season long and hunted on occasion on the adjacent land. Very little pressure on the deer from me. Did my deer sightings go up, no, should they have, yes. The only buck deer I saw that season on the 120 acre tract was two small bucks that look like twins born a little late. They were small at the beginning of the season, but gained weight quick over the next four months. Still can't believe those two made it all season. I know they did not make it until the next year. If I was to hunt that property today I would not wait on a buck, it would be a big enough deer for the table. You can't shoot bucks if they don't come on the place you are hunting, rut or no rut! That is one reason a lot of people will never see a long rut, there just are not enough deer.
