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Doe management opinions
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:33 am
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:33 am
Seeing what seems to be a lot more does than normal this year. When I say this, I’m talking 10-20 does per hunt with a single spike or 4 or 5 point mixed in every couple of days.
Edit: I did shoot a decent 9 point Monday of this week, that walked in behind a group of probably 5 does.
With that said, when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
My opinion is keep them around until the rut. Guy at my work says start popping them now, because does carry the majority of your genetics. Not sure how that logic adds up, but whatever. I asked how I judge which does have good genetics and he said “if they have 2 fawns with them”. Again, I’m seeing anywhere from 5-10 nanny’s and 5-10 fawns per hunt and don’t know who’s is who’s, so I couldn’t do that if I tried.
So again, when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
Edit: I did shoot a decent 9 point Monday of this week, that walked in behind a group of probably 5 does.
With that said, when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
My opinion is keep them around until the rut. Guy at my work says start popping them now, because does carry the majority of your genetics. Not sure how that logic adds up, but whatever. I asked how I judge which does have good genetics and he said “if they have 2 fawns with them”. Again, I’m seeing anywhere from 5-10 nanny’s and 5-10 fawns per hunt and don’t know who’s is who’s, so I couldn’t do that if I tried.
So again, when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
This post was edited on 10/30/21 at 8:35 am
21
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:34 am to LSUTigahss
quote:
when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
Yes
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:35 am to LSUTigahss
quote:1st world problems
I’m talking 10-20 does per hunt
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:38 am to LSUTigahss
quote:
I’m talking 10-20 does per hunt with a single spike or 4 or 5 point mixed in every couple of days.
First of all, most guys here, myself included, would be over the moon at this type of action.
Are the small bucks starting to chase some of the does? If not, they’re still herded up. You can take a few does and not harm the herd. Once the rut starts, I leave the does alone. There’s not a better bait in the woods than pussy.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:42 am to LSUTigahss
I’ll start by saying I hunt public land, so take what I say with a grain of salt
My opinion is if you’re shooting does for herd management, do it early season. Reason being, it’s less mouths to feed later in the year. The pregnant does need all the nutrition they can get for their fawns. And more available food will help the bucks during the off-season and new antler growth
My opinion is if you’re shooting does for herd management, do it early season. Reason being, it’s less mouths to feed later in the year. The pregnant does need all the nutrition they can get for their fawns. And more available food will help the bucks during the off-season and new antler growth
Posted on 10/30/21 at 8:53 am to LSUTigahss
I have a group of 12 that comes to me feeder twice daily sometimes 3-4 times, with corn at $10.00 a sack I'm tired of feeding them.
I'm about to go all natural and stop feeding
I'm about to go all natural and stop feeding
Posted on 10/30/21 at 9:04 am to LSUTigahss
Shoot them when you have a high percentage shot and you can tell for sure they are a doe.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 9:08 am to LSUTigahss
Invite friends and kill 25/30 does. Food supply and deer quality will improve
Posted on 10/30/21 at 9:26 am to LSUTigahss
I’m in the same boat with the does. When I hunted in mississippi, I might go weeks without seeing a deer. Now I don’t even look away from my phone when the herd comes through. My 7 year old is already bored with watching does which kinda aggravates me. Meanwhile we blast year old 130lb 5pts cause “that’s the rules.” I wish we would skip bucks one season and go scorched earth on does but old timers won’t have it.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 10:23 am to LSUTigahss
I like to shoot mine around 7:30 am so I can be back at the truck when the coffee hits.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 11:03 am to LSUTigahss
quote:
I asked how I judge which does have good genetics and he said “if they have 2 fawns with them”.
You aren’t going to change genetics. Bucks get big with age and nutrition. You can control age by not shooting smaller bucks. Reducing total deer on the landscape and improving habitat will help with nutrition availability.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 1:10 pm to LSUTigahss
Best strategy in management is kill them early, as killing them late risks killing your genetics. You want the bred does to deliver, and make it through season. Killing them late is a crap shoot….Doe management in areas that don’t have tons of agricultural supplements, is the best strategy for big bucks, on every level; much better than supplemental feeding, as it equilibrates nutrition to the entire herd, increases carrying capacity, and does nothing for individual deer. Keep the does low, kill them early( before they are bred), and let the young bucks age…….
Posted on 10/30/21 at 1:35 pm to LSUTigahss
quote:
when is the “right” time to shoot your does?
Whenever you get a shot and feel like cleaning one. Waiting for the right time doesn’t make sense.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 5:09 pm to LSUTigahss
Now. Get the does out as quick as possible, and figure out how many you need to kill. Good rule of thumb is 1:100 acres, but you may need to kill more.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 5:22 pm to LSUTigahss
Shoot them early, if you shoot them after the rut you may be killing several deer (assuming she’s preg) with one shot.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 6:56 pm to LSUTigahss
Forget about trying to manage for or against genetics. Manage for habitat and age class.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 7:37 pm to LSUTigahss
Start taking them now before those small bucks become few and far between, and the big bucks become that of myth.
Also contact Lwlf and apply for DMAP. This is what I’m doing next year. I’m not sure of the process, but I believe they send a biologist out to determine how many need to be taken. Theyll give you all the doe tags they believe you need to keep a good herd.
We’re going through the same thing at the moment. We are, we think, at around 3:1 ratio doe to bucks, and everyone has their own opinion on what is best going forward. Frankly we’re at a crossroads similar to you.
Also contact Lwlf and apply for DMAP. This is what I’m doing next year. I’m not sure of the process, but I believe they send a biologist out to determine how many need to be taken. Theyll give you all the doe tags they believe you need to keep a good herd.
We’re going through the same thing at the moment. We are, we think, at around 3:1 ratio doe to bucks, and everyone has their own opinion on what is best going forward. Frankly we’re at a crossroads similar to you.
Posted on 10/30/21 at 7:49 pm to LSUTigahss
High doe/buck ratio will lead to undersize bucks and poor racks.
You need 2/1 ratio maybe 3/1.
You need 2/1 ratio maybe 3/1.
Posted on 10/31/21 at 8:13 am to LSUTigahss
Shoot them, but not at your comfortable/ easy to hunt areas so they still feel comfortable there.
Posted on 10/31/21 at 8:37 am to LSUTigahss
I shoot my doe early to fill the freezer. I prefer the doe fawn as they are quite tender. (Have to make sure it is not a button buck.). I then only shoot big bucks (8 points or larger). I have too many does (5:1 ratio) and too many hunters that only shoot bucks. I’ve always heard the ratio needs to be 1:1 for the herd to do the best.
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