Where'd the deer go?

[PriceRacing35]

I went yesterday and my morning was extremely slow. All I saw was three fawns. But they seemed to be pushing each other around as if a monkey see monkey do. Type of thing. As I walked out to warm up. I noticed several new scrapes. Or cleaned up scrapes. I checked a trail cam as well. I had one pic of a 3.5 yr old 8. That was broke to a bare main beam on the right side. He looked about like I feel this morning. He was extremely run down. And it was a 12:03am picture. The afternoon hunt was a little better. The past weekend I noticed 4 does that come off the neighbors ridge around 4 and come to our winter grasses. They usually stop at a thicket at the fence which is where the scrapes were. I was hoping big boy was in there and their scent would draw him out. As they came in I noticed there was 6 this time. Two fawns had returned. I'm guessing these does had been bred already? Right at dark a small spike came out and fed on the grass for maybe 10 minutes before moving on. My question is. Where are the mature deer. Peak breeding(lockdown) seems to be slowly declining. I am afraid our Mennonite neighbors are hunting illegally. We caught them two years ago rifle hunting in early October. I would like to put more trail cameras out in our better locations. But if they trespass. They would walk right by them. Anybody else having any luck or have any advice? I am in SW missouri. Rifle season is closing in a few days. And I may wait a few weeks to start bow hunting again to let the deer calm down some.

[wtnhunt]

Been kinda weird here. Seeing does herded up as if the rut is done. Should be some decent bucks looking for hot does still. Did see one single doe real early this morning, all the rest were in groups. Did not see a single antlered deer.

[PriceRacing35]

Where'd the deer go?

Last Saturday my dad was able to rattle up a 115-120 buck 3 times throughout the day. But never shot. Were are determined to get one above 145. But he went and hung two new trail cameras today. Hopefully when I go back in two weeks we have some encouraging pictures to share.