From what I've observed, there are a LOT of times a "co-dominance" in herds, especially small 6-8 deer group/herds, larger herds also often times seem to have a "co-dominant" pair, though I have witnessed a definite dominant matriarch many times as well. The herd that frequents my back yard "semi-regularly," has one matriarchal doe, looks to be about 4-5 yrs old, and about 7 others depending on who all shows up, and she seems to be the one that does the most watching out, as the rest of them eat, she eats and then looks all around, eats a little more, and looks around some more. She also will circle back around, and prod the stragglers when it's time to move on. That's generally what I've observed as a matriarchal doe. The DOE I posted in the "biggest doe you ever killed" thread was a matriarch over 16 deer, including a pair of YOUNG 6pts. in her herd, she had a semi-co-dominant doe that seemed to be like a "matriarch" in training, but she was quite obviously the DOMINANT deer. I need to start filming, some of the fun stuff I see, because on the morning I killed her, I watched her "BED DOWN" her whole herd, all 15 of them, and then she assumed a "point" position, and looked them over like a sheepdog does his flock. Arrowing her, after watching her for nearly 90 minutes was truly a joy and a hunt that may always be my most memorable and most exciting hunt, even though it was a doe that I arrowed.

Sorry for the long-windedness.