You want to score this season? Then you need to know that there are four distinct phases to the rut.

There's the early pre-rut, from October 22 to November 1; the seek-and-chase period, November 2 to 13; peak breeding, November 14 to 25; and the post-rut, November 26 to December 5. Each phase has different characteristics, and each should be hunted differently.

There are also key dates in every phase, prime days when you need to be in the woods, hunting your butt off. The slides at right tell you when they are this year, and give tips on how to hunt them. Study them, learn them, use them. October 22
October 31
November 4
November 7
November 14
November 25
December 5