I think the dominant buck has plenty of ladies at home.

I just posted similar to Gmmat's post.

Based on what I have read over the years, this is how I think it works.

Bucks share territory. There are dominant bucks, they will get all the does they can handle. It takes som time (from 12-48) hours for a buck to get a doe bred. So during the period of the rut, one buck can handle maybe 10 does, probably less. A dominant buck may not have to move out of his own area to get all the does he wants. But, once he finds a hot doe, he will stay with her till he gets her bred or he gets chased off by a bigger buck. She might lead him out of his 'core' area. If a buck follows a doe a few miles from home, I don't know that he will have to return home before he finds another doe.

It is first come first served with the does. A spike will chase the doe around and he will breed her if he can get her to stand, but usually a bigger buck will find her before that happens and chase the smaller one away. Then he will breed her unless an even bigger one shows up. The dominant buck is not going to have anybody show up and chase him off, unless a stronger buck from elsewhere comes in. He doesn't have to go very far. But he will take a doe away from any subordinates.

A buck that is not getting many does in his home area, may move to another and take over. I have heard of radio collared deer that move miles from home during the rut, and then return home after it is over.

Most of the does get bred by the medium sized bucks according to an article I read the other day by a deer biologist. The bigger bucks do all they can, but there are more does than they can handle, because there just arent that many older mature bucks.