JB is right on. The best time to arrow a mature buck is pre-rut. To me the best time to be in the woods is Oct 27th thru Nov 10th every year. They say the best all around day to hunt is Nov 7th. More mature bucks are killed on Nov 7th then any other day. Late Oct is dynamite especially if you get a good cold snap. The mature bucks are on their feet seeking after the 1st estous doe. Just talking about it gets me geeked up. I feel like makeing a scrape and rubbing on the floor lamp in the living room right now.