With the many days I hunted in PA, and the few in Ohio, I couldn't agree more! My opinion, it's been long over, although many sounds as if they are still waiting for it to happen? Might catch a late yearling, but the best has long passed, and the best wasn't that great to begin with?
Of course, here in Virginia it has been seasonably warm which is one of the definite factors that can suppress daytime deer activity. The rutting moon was somewhere there in the first full week of November (Nov 2, if I recall correctly) so in all actuality we should be nearing, if not in, the breeding phase. That being said, you would have thought that between Nov 10-20 there would have been a lot of activity. But, then again, the warm temperatures would have suppressed this PLUS it's been a poor mast year in most of Virginia. My brother and I were pondering the effect that would have on the rut the other day. Granted, few to no acorns in an area mean less deer in said area, but does the lack of nutrition via mast affect the rut with respects to when does come into estrous in any way???
I saw 9 does in a group last night, not a buck to be seen ANYWHERE!!! I've seen one buck on the tail of a doe all year, and this counts driving back and forth to work, hunting, whatever. I've also not seen nearly as many dead deer on the road this year as usual.
