Hello,
I believe the biggest wave of MATURE does have been bred. I believe most these does came into cycle around the start of the full moon period. However, there are still plenty of mature does that have not yet been bred, I feel.
Research indicates that, very often, 1.5 year old does come into heat an average of 1 week later than the mature does (while young-of-the-year doe fawns typically come into cycle approximately 28 days after mature does, if they come into cycle at all their first season).
I believe we are at the tail end of the mature doe breeding cycle and are entering the period when many of the 1.5 year old does are starting. (And there are a lot of 1.5 year old does out there!).
I believe it is a safe assumption to conclude that mature bucks will be lingering around doe family groups through the early portion of next week, when most of the November cycle does have finally gone through cycle (the mature does and the 1.5 year olds). It is after most of the does have gone through cycle that you will begin to see consistent, widespread, big buck movement. Right now, most of the big ones are holed up in the doe areas, while some of the 2.5 year old bucks are snatching up unclaimed does-in-heat and the baskets are still doing some place-to-place roaming, hoping they can find a ready doe without a buck around to kick his behind.
This is my take on the situation anyway. I'm expecting -- hoping for with finger's crossed -- good big buck movment the last several days of this month all the way up until the start of the big Iowa slugfest. Right now, it is slow and tough, unless you manage to sneak into a hot doe zone or are lucky enough to catch a big buck between does.
Good Hunting...Raven
