re: Stubbs Island flood - deer retreating

Study after study has revealed that deer return to their home area shortly after flood waters drop. In some cases deer were forced 20+ miles from their home range, but they returned after flood waters dropped. The main affect floods have on deer is the stress that it puts on does that are getting ready to have fawns. In some cases these does will abort the fawn due to stress. Even if fawns are born, they still don't have as good a chance to survive as they would if they were born on their mothers "home" range. This is due also to stress, less food, predation, and not being strong enough to follow their mothers back home. They will see a bigger impact a few years down the road when there are a few less mature bucks due to the area along the river losing some of their fawn crop this year.

I'm sure that the 30 deer on the porch are or were a very small percentage of their total deer. If they do see a big impact from losing these particular deer then their club wasn't very good to begin with.

Obviously I wasn't talking about these particular deer returning smart arse..

Deer will take their place rather quick. It's not a 5 year process. Deer generally stay in their home area their whole lives. They will also move a short distance if they find more food. The does may be spread out a tad bit more over their property due to moving in on some of the land that has opened up so to speak, but they will see just as many bucks, and the does will thrive for at least this coming deer season due to competing with a few less mouths.