Adult bucks make about twice as many scrapes as yearlings. Although not common, buck fawns and does have been observed freshening scrapes. Testosterone levels increase as the rut progresses, and bucks become driven to find estrous does-those that are ready to breed. The period just prior to peak breeding probably offers bow hunters the best hunting of the season because bucks constantly move and search for does in heat. Rutting bucks spend more time searching for and tending to does than eating during breeding season and sometimes lose considerable weight.
Bucks typically visit the various doe family units in their home range checking for estrous does.
Prior to breeding, does also increase activity levels, thus increasing the likelihood of finding a buck and being bred. Does that are not bred cycle again about 28 days later and may be bred in subsequent cycles. In Missouri, most adult does are bred the second and third weeks of November. Doe fawns are bred about a month later because they cycle later than adults. Some hunters and biologists have voiced concerns that not all does are bred in populations with heavily exploited bucks.