Late Late Rut?
 

I went out yesterday 1/9/11 afternoon for the last day of the 2010 deer season.

It was a great afternoon and there was nearly no wind. I had a mature doe pass by my stand with a decent 8 pt and 6 pt following her.

They were not vocalizing but the bucks were acting as if the doe was in heat. I realize that does will go into heat in December if they are not bread in November but this seems extremely late.

Any ideas of does cycling a third time if they are not bread? By the way I let all 3 deer walk, hopefully I will be rewarded for the good deed next season.

It is possible, with very large doe populations its possible a few didnt get bred during the peak, and "second" ruts. Ive seen does here bleating in mid-october with smaller bucks chasing em.

Does will re-cycle and enter the estrus period again every 26-28 days after the initial peak breeding season. This seems to fit pretty well in the timeline of what would be this doe's 3 estrus period this fall. Chances are high she'll be bred soon, if not already. Unfortunately, this means she'll be giving birth around the end of July or beginning of August. Most likely, this cycle of late breeding will continue for this doe if she carries her fawn to term and raises it properly. Being born that late will not fare well for the fawn or the doe leading into next winter. Expect to see some spotted fawns running around with a doe around the end of August next year.

This year I saw a spotted fawn the end of oct.

deer are difficut confusing animals.You can try to predict and pattern bucks,and they wioll do something compleatly unexpected.This year i got my buck in a batchlor group of three bucks in the middle of the rut.My point being,you can guess,but their complecated confusing creatures