I hunt about 15-20 acres with neighbors on two sides that have a total of about 700-1000 acres. I got pics on my trail cam on the 12-15 of young bucks chasing does and fighting. Also had fresh rubs and scrapes pop up everywhere. I checked my trail cameras yesterday and now the does are back grouped together, the bucks were feeding with the does and each other with nothing happening and their tarsal glands are a lot lighter now.

I am thinking that because we have only 5-6 does and 12-13 bucks that the does have been bread and the best I can hope for is to catch a buck wondering around looking for a doe. Could the lack of does make for a short rut period?

I could be wrong, but I think the idea is that the fewer does that you have, the longer the rut will be. The thinking here is that the bucks have to search far and wide for a mate. If does are plentiful, the buck won't have to go far to find a hot doe and won't move as much.

I could be wrong but this is what I have heard in the past.

you are bassackwerds wrong....

the more does, the more does compared to bucks, the harder, and longer, the bucks have to search out all the does. Extends the rut.

the lesson thus endeth.....

You've heard wrong there UAB.

Fewer does results in a tighter breeding window. Bucks lock em down and get em bred. More does results in a longer breeding window with does not getting bred their first cycle, a complete madhouse for two months with bucks losing a lot of resources.

Sbo you can't possibly get a glimpse into what is occurring on 15-20 acres. A couple of eager bucks can bust up a group of does in cold weather several weeks prior to the actual breeding phase. The cooler weather we had over the past week had a lot of bucks eager to breed, but they don't make that decision, the does and their internal clock does. I've been seeing rutting behavior over a week, but I know according to several years of conception data in the area, the does are not in estrous yet.

Welp that's it folks. With both Troy and Matt weighing in on this one we can go ahead and close this one down (and I say that with 100% sincerity - no tongue in cheek here!).

Thanks for clearing that up Mbrock, learn something every day.

I found a few websites that stated that fewer does lead to a shorter rut just as several have mentioned here. The rut here where I hunt usually occurs between mid to late December so they are pretty much on schedule, I just have a shorter time frame to hunt the rut.
Thanks

Bucks can travel at least 2 square miles during the rut.
You have a lot of land surrounding you so you probably haven't got all the bucks or does in the area on your camera.
Don't give up, no telling what you may get a shot at.