Q: what's the breeding season for whitetail deer in northeast ohio
A: Gary V is exactly correct. A doe will begin to give off pheromones at a certain time during the year based upon how much light in a day pass through her eyes. Years ago I read of a study where dozens of deer, of 3 different species were put into an indoor habitat, and the daylight hours were controlled. It was found, that by letting in less light each day, that the does would start their estrus cycle causing the bucks to start to rut. The bucks would begin with the scrapes, and rubs, then get swollen necks in the middle of July. So that said, it does not matter if you live in Northeast Ohio, or south Florida. The shorter days of fall begin the rut, and put it in its peak around the 2nd and 3rd week of November. Interestingly enough, as a test, the same conditions were simulated in the exact habitat with only bucks. The only difference is that without does present to alert the bucks of the cycle, the bucks did not go into rut in th middle of November Happy Hunting.