I think weather is the number one deal maker or breaker
if it hot or wet, the rut always sems to be off, or most activety is at night
in yrs it cold and overcast, or snowing, I always have better action in shooting hrs
amount of hunting pressure will change patterens no matter what time of season
but heat is the enemy in my opinion more!
hard to kill bucks at night when tepms drop
then again, pressure makes them go nocturnal too LOL