so my next dumb question... when exactly is the rut and what can i do to get more activity...?

dress like a pretty deer.....

Rut is the mating season where it is rumored that typically cautious bucks loose all inhibitions and wanter the woods in search of does for procreation.

the rut is when the bucks are chasin around the does in hopes of "gettin some" or as BobW says "procreation". Some use scents and attractions i really like to use the gunt when i feel its a good time to do so. But during this time the bucks are going to do whatever the does want. so find the does and theres a good chance there is a buck not to far behind...Curtis

2 AM club for bucks-they behave just like we do at that time.

He didn't ask what, but when...  

It (both ruts, mind you) falls sometime btwn Oct 15th and January 15th, give or take a week or two on either side.    

Plan on being out from sunup till sundown btwn these dates...everyday, all day.


To be more serious...in your neck of the woods, I might take my vacation btwn the very end of Oct and the middle of November...if you were forced, the first week of Nov.

Just a WAG, though.

Here is a thread that contains a poll dealing with the dates of the rut:

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050931

Ya know Kris, I may not be a veteran bowhunter, But you could have just asked me when/what the rut was.  

All I can tell you is to be in the woods or hunting as much as you can from Nov5 Nov15, Big bucks brains are dead....

If forced to pick a date in your neck of the woods, I would say trhe second week of Nov. The rut varies year to year but it is a good bet it will be between Nov. 1st. and the 23rd. every year which two weeks varies. I have from Nov. 3rd. to the 19th. off this year, here where I live in NY I feel good about those dates. Shawn

Set your clock: The rut in OH will be on the first full moon in November.