Corey,

I tend to hunt food/cover patterns during the pre-rut.  I look for locations where deer will be using during daylight hours and that I can access, hunt, and exit without alerting deer.

During the rut I either hunt travel areas or the edge of bedding areas.  Bucks will often use travel areas that go from bedding cover to bedding cover while seeking a receptive doe.  They will often seek receptive does within bedding areas.  If they locate a receptive doe they often will nudge her out of bedding cover and try to separate her from other deer, especially other bucks.  I probably hunt closer to bedding areas during the rut than any other time of the year.  

Enjoy creation,

grant