when is the rut in this area?

Easiest way I know of is to drive down the freeway, when you start seeing dead bucks in the ditches. It's rut.

first of feb. in nw florida for sure.

Its towards the end of the season here in FL. Thats why I bought a muzzle loader a few years back, seemed the season ended as the big one's were walking.

I'm not sure, but I think the weather plays more of a role down here. You just never know when its going to get cold. I think further north its not quite as unpredictable, but then again, I don't know.

feb but start hunting your sents in january

ive killed rutting bucks in the last couple weeks of Jan but mostly in Feb. buy a muzzleloader if you plan on killin bucks chasin does. i also hunt in evergreen al and the rut there is around MLK week. saw lots of bucks chasing does during that week last year

Good read.....

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW121

The week of Martin Luther King holiday you better be in the woods. That seems to be the right time almost every year. That is when I take a few days off work and sit in the stand all day.