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Deer management
Posted on 11/25/13 at 3:02 am
Posted on 11/25/13 at 3:02 am
Long time lurker, first time poster in the OB. I have a question for ya'll. I just recently started hunting out on my father in law's land. He has a pretty decent whitetail population out there (judging from game cams and hunting out there). The thing is, there seem to be very few bucks in relation to does. I would estimate it at 6-7:1 does to bucks. He gave me free reign over hunting out there pretty much, except to "not kill any little bucks." I take this to mean button bucks, obviously, and four points, etc. There are plenty of deer to shoot every time I go out, but I'm not the kind of person to just go slaughtering everything in sight. My question is, what would be the best approach to managing this population while having a sustainable harvest, and increasing buck population and quality? Thanks in advance.
5
Posted on 11/25/13 at 3:09 am to dboy8713
Shoot does only until the ratio is about 2 to 1.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 4:19 am to dboy8713
I'll have to say, try & harvest as many does as legal but i'd try & kill the old ones without yearlings. I'd still shoot a big old buck if giving the chance & lay off some young 6-8 pointers 
Posted on 11/25/13 at 5:07 am to dboy8713
Lots of questions including:
1) how many acres?
2) where is it located?
3) What kind of management program do your neighbors practice?
4) Are you the only one hunting?
5) how good is the habitat and soil? Piney woods, agricultural fields, bottom land hardwoods, etc
1) how many acres?
2) where is it located?
3) What kind of management program do your neighbors practice?
4) Are you the only one hunting?
5) how good is the habitat and soil? Piney woods, agricultural fields, bottom land hardwoods, etc
Posted on 11/25/13 at 5:27 am to No Colors
Get a wildlife biologist out there.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 5:37 am to Nascar Fan
quote:
, try & harvest as many does as legal but i'd try & kill the old ones without yearlings.
Those big old does with no yearlings are likely sterile and will be out of the population in the next couple of years due to natural causes. If the goal is to reduce the population, the OP will need to focus on the younger deer (does) since they will be around the longest and reproducing the most. The old ones that aren't reproducing will die off on the own soon enough
Posted on 11/25/13 at 5:50 am to dboy8713
quote:
I would estimate it at 6-7:1 does to bucks
You need to make sure this ratio is accurate before implementing any management program. Most hunters miscalculate this, from what I've seen.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 6:37 am to No Colors
Thanks, I've only taken one deer out there, and it was what I believed to be the oldest doe out of 6-8 that walked up at once. It's located in NW LA near Lake Bistineau, so I would classify it as piney woods. I am not the only one hunting, and I have no idea what kind of management program the neighbors practice. Also, it is free range, so I wasn't aware that a wildlife biologist would be of any use. I was more or less just curious as to what the general rule would be when choosing to harvest from a large herd of deer. I assumed it would be the oldest doe in the group, and to allow yearlings and small bucks to walk. Basically, I do not want to go out to my father in laws' land and decimate a stable deer population. While am growing fond of the hunt, it is more important to me that I preserve and promote and healthier herd. It would also be nice to have an opportunity at a trophy some day.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 7:03 am to dboy8713
You need to shoot does from all age ranges. Shoot does until you get the ratio corrected, and don't shoot any young bucks. Get a deer aging tool and start to learn how to tell young deer from old by their bodies. We don't start culling bucks from the heard until they are 3.5.
Now if a true trophy walks out smoke him. Remember it's all about having fun.
Now if a true trophy walks out smoke him. Remember it's all about having fun.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 8:40 am to dboy8713
When picking does to shoot remember that a doe will have babies up to 9 yrs old. You want to shoot the does that breed late each season. Look for the ones that have their yearlings from last year still with her.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 9:03 am to dboy8713
quote:
Thanks, I've only taken one deer out there, and it was what I believed to be the oldest doe out of 6-8 that walked up at once. It's located in NW LA near Lake Bistineau, so I would classify it as piney woods. I am not the only one hunting, and I have no idea what kind of management program the neighbors practice. Also, it is free range, so I wasn't aware that a wildlife biologist would be of any use. I was more or less just curious as to what the general rule would be when choosing to harvest from a large herd of deer. I assumed it would be the oldest doe in the group, and to allow yearlings and small bucks to walk. Basically, I do not want to go out to my father in laws' land and decimate a stable deer population. While am growing fond of the hunt, it is more important to me that I preserve and promote and healthier herd. It would also be nice to have an opportunity at a trophy some day.
Where are you on Lake Bistineau? We hunt out there on the Northwest portion (Doyline)
Posted on 11/25/13 at 11:12 am to dboy8713
quote:
You need to shoot does from all age ranges. Shoot does until you get the ratio corrected, and don't shoot any young bucks. Get a deer aging tool and start to learn how to tell young deer from old by their bodies. We don't start culling bucks from the heard until they are 3.5.
Now if a true trophy walks out smoke him. Remember it's all about having fun.
This.
I'd also add to learn to age bucks on the hoof, as well. While you don't want to harvest a 2 1/2 yr old 6 point, you'll want to harvest that same deer if it's 4 1/2 yrs old.
Posted on 11/25/13 at 6:39 pm to thedogman
I hunt in Doyline as well; right up the road from Green Park on hwy 527. Where are you at?
Posted on 11/27/13 at 8:46 am to dboy8713
quote:
I hunt in Doyline as well; right up the road from Green Park on hwy 527. Where are you at?
We hunt off of 163 south of Tina's Kitchen. Have yall had any luck this year? If you look into getting a biologist maybe we could try and work a deal out with him to knock both areas out since they are pretty close.
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