The closest farmed ruminants to whitetails are sheep and goats as they typically start to cycle with decreasing daylight in the Fall. The first 15-19 day cycle 70-85% come into heat and 60-75% actually conceive. That leaves 25 to at most 40% to cycle during the second 15-19 day period. For whitetails that second cycle is now. A mature buck who took care of most of his does the first time around is more inclined to expand his territory now in search of does, provided hunting pressure has not turned him nocturnal. Even so he'll wander but only in view of a trail cam. One of my wall hangers I took a few years back in late November. He walked through with a doe. I had hunted hard that year all bow season and never saw him or sign of a buck like him on our property. Last year during late bow season saw 2 different beauties come through, one from the kitchen window, and one who bedded down 60 yards from my stand then got up and headed around me. With him, the doe in heat can and the buck grunt did not spur his interest. I'm hoping he comes around again this year. So I for one believe the next 3 weeks offer some good opportunities to see a good one. I will add that a large portion of farmland around me sees heavy gun hunting pressure which definitely adds to the late season opportunities including does who tend to bed in some of the really thick areas on our land. I would do the same thing if I were getting constantly pushed and shot at on the neighboring land.
Greg
[ Post made via Android ]