The region is not good for mature bucks on public land. Cwd is a concern there and managers think the lack of mature deer can be attributed in part to cwd. They kept the season open to the end of Oct last year I assume as part of their cwd plan. If taking of more mature bucks is a goal, why not just hunt into November? If you have some private to hunt or local knowledge you can find an older deer but for the most part J stinks.
Depends on what hunt you're looking for. There are a ton of deer in this area, you can definitely find some decent bucks here and have a lot of fun. There is a very high prevalence of CWD in this area and my buddy has killed two bucks in the last two years here that have both had it. There is also a lot of chunked up public land that can certainly make access frustrating and create some insane crowds on public land parcels. The season runs from October 15th to the 31st in this area and I have found that the tail end of this season can bring some solid bucks out. The last few days in this area (especially with some cold weather) can bring some solid bucks out of hiding. Ultimately if you hike a lot and spend some time behind the glass you will find them as with most areas.