Saw a lot of bucks early to mid-November. The buck I shot on 11/16/06 in unit 407 was definately in the rut. His antlers were full of bark from rubbing, he was clueless that he walked right over the top of me, and his scent glands were covered in musk. I'm still seeing bucks here & there so it may depend on the area as to whether or not they are coming or going on their rut cycle. I'm no scientist but I've always heard that the rut is triggered by the lunar cycles and how much light enters the photo receptors in the deer's eyes. Not sure of the scientific term for that but I've heard it a few times.