Still plenty of does here in 2b. They are crawling outta the woodwork as of late. Don't know where they were all hiding during archery.
At least you know where to look, Bob.

i dont know what is so UNUSUAL about LATE rutting this year.

rut is later this year than normal,seen this a few times in past.

write this down as LEARNING experience on your part!

I'm glad this thread got started.
I was wondering if the rutting activity will last into the second archery season?

I still have tags to fill.

I learn every time I go out in the woods. Maybe some day, I'll know as much as you think you do.

It's not a late rut but the second rut is whats happening. Most reports I heard say that the peak rut actually started a little early this year but was more of a trickle rut with a less intense "peak"

This years doe fawns that reach a body weight of around 75 pounds will come into estrous this time of year as will does that didnt get bred on their first estrous cycle. Any doe not bred will cycle back into estrous approximately 28 days later. The average conception date in PA is right around Nov 17 so the second rut should peak around Dec 13-14.

Second rut activity among adult does is more pronounced in areas where the buck doe ratio is still too heavy on does. If there werent enough bucks to breed the does the first time , the unbred does come back in estrous a month later.

In an area with a healthy population, the second rut activity will be mostly doe fawns that now have sufficient body mass to become pregnant.

I think we're gonna miss most of it

I hunt a few days in Everett, PA they certainly are not short on bucks or doe's. I also saw a lead doe that had to weigh 220+lb's, the biggest doe I have ever seen in the woods.

My buddy Tom and another guy watched a huge buck dogging a small doe all over byBimini lake last week.

Update!

was out archery hunting today and saw a small 7 point, a six point and a forkieharassing three does and grunting up a storm. The three does were a mama and two fawns. My guess is that one of the fawns was beginning toreach estrous and the bucks, being young, reacted by chasing all of them. I watched the funfor awhile and then shot the doe

That still gives me hope BT. For now I am only getting in an hour after work. Saturday I will be out in one of my normal spotshoping to see a shooter.