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In Missouri the peak rut (meaning the date that most does are bred) takes place around Nov 15 give or take a day, every year despite what people will tell you based upon their observations. The peak second rut (meaning when the does not previously bred and doe yearlings are bred) happens 28 days later.
These dates are when the breeding occurs and have been determined by biologist doing fetal studies of road killed deer.
But you will see most activity (chasing) about a week before these dates. The rut is called the rut because of the lessened activity of bucks as they quit chasing and just "hole up" with the does that are ready to breed.
As with anything in nature there is variance, so some does will breed before and after these peak dates, meaning that the rut will ramp up, and linger past, those dates.
Either way, scrapes will continue to be checked between now and mid December. I found a fresh one yesterday.
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