Been a member before but lost membership details so starting over. Thought I would also share my experience. I hunt in NE Ohio. Saw a group of 8 does, sometimes together, sometimes as (5+3) 3 times hunting in early in October. Then they literally disappeared. No hunting sighting and no trailcam pics. Then the bucks starting moving in on trailcam. This was prob mid October. One giant, one odd-shaped wide 6, and the rest little 1.5 year olds--7 bucks in total all with distinct racks. Took a "doe" a week ago to fill the freezer. One of the basket 8 1.5 year olds was following her. After I downed it, I found out it was one of the 1.5 fork-horns that had already had both antlers ripped off. Never saw that before. So much for the seeking phase--it was just bucks hanging out.
I've been hunting pretty hard for the last two weeks. I've consistently had 1-2 of the 1.5 year olds come through at dusk or dawn to feed, but not care to seek or anything else. I consistently have the other bucks on trail cam between 10pm-4am. I came back to the forums because I thought my hunting place was skunked. I'm not "glad" to hear no one else is seeing much, but at least it gives me hope that it's not just me. At this point last year, I had already seen tons of chasing and some of the bigger deer were already locked in. One, by 11/7 last year, was already on to his second or third conquests. Anyway, praying this weekend changes things. Anyone else have the doe just disappear?