Some general firearms deer seasons have closed. The first winter storms of the year are gathering. Peak breeding has been over for days. So what’s special about this date? Plenty. Secondary rutting will heat up starting today. This phase of the breeding cycle involves two different groups of does. The first are any mature animals that were not bred during the primary rut; they will enter a second estrus about a month from their first cycle. The second group of does is composed of fawns—usually early-born animals—entering their first estrous cycle. Bucks will spend the entire winter tending to these stragglers, and this is opening day of that second rut. Read More