Colorado Eastern plains late season

[def90]

Out on my eastern plains archery hunt that runs Oct-Nov and then the last two weeks of Dec. I've hunted this before and even at this point in the year generally if I can find a group of does there will be a buck nearby. This year I have only been able to get out this last week and this weekend and for some reason I am only finding doe groups, no bucks with them anywhere to be found. It has been unseasonably hot though, was almost 70 today while in the past highs would be in the low 50's if you are lucky.

Terrain is rolling hills with clumps of junipers along with some ravines and deep river canyons. Wondering if the bucks have already left their doe groups post rut and are hiding down in the canyon bottoms to get out of the heat.

 

[Scottf270]

May all be dead already.....

 

[def90]

Yeah, don't think so.

 

[4weight]

My guess is lots of pressure especially on public and deer are close to 100% nocturnal.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I would go with pushed onto private or near nocturnal, also probably in the thick nasty with this heat wave

 

[nmarchr]

my son hunted the eastern plains at the beginning of december and it seemed like the rut was winding down when we were there. He shot a big old buck that was with another buck. We saw a few lone bucks and bucks in bachelor groups. we did see two mature bucks with does, but I think for the most part the rut was almost over. The buck he shot was pretty worn down and skinny like he had rutted hard.