re: The intelligence of deer from different areas

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The whole cull thing is better in theory than reality to me, because it's hard to correctly implement in a club full of hunters with differing abilities to identify deer that need to be removed.

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The editor of QDMA's magazine agrees with you, for a number of different reasons.

Why We Can’t Manage Deer Genetics

You're also right about shooting does, but how many is the question. You can talk to your biologist about possibly getting on DMAP, or just get some pointers from him on putting together a good doe harvest number based on camera counts or whatever he suggests.

Thanks for the info.

Didn't read but the "you can't see genetics". Spot on with that comment. The truth is that these older "cull bucks" have already bred does in your herd and their " inferior" genetics are out there.

The other part of that is that 50% of genetics come from momma

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Also, I'm more concerned with a hunter's ability to make the correct assumption. I think more immature deer get shot under the pretenses of being a "cull buck".

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That's why you have people learn to age and have repercussions for screwing up. Besides the genetic factor, you're feeding one less older deer.

I added an edit. He does come off a bit smug, but I did think it was worth the read.

This thread has taken a turn against the original post.

One big thing that Mississippi has done since I've been hunting it is what they classified as a legal buck. Going from 4 points or better to main beam and width at least puts it in a hunters head to look at it a little harder. In Louisiana, if it's got bone on top of hair blast away.

I personally hate dedicated doe days on private property but if it helps improve the overall herd I guess it's for the best. Just wish they would eliminate doe days during the rut and have a couple days available during the week earlier in rifle season.

Ultimately, a good heard is one with an even to near even buck to doe ratio, deer with enough weight on them so they develop into what they should as well as survive, and populations that approach but not overcome the capacity of the tract of land they live on.


We don't have to worry as much down here with bitter winters but certain places have spring flooding and that takes a toll on a populations food sources as well as the energy to make it, during gestation. Also due to the current hog problem deer now have to compete for food with other animals.

Yes, I want to opportunity to shoot bucks with bigger racks, but I also want to kill a couple does to put meat in my freezer if that opportunity doesn't present itself. I prefer to do this early in the season so I'm not trying to put meat on the ground in December or January, possibly after a doe has already been bred by a mature buck whose genes you want to carry on throughout the herd.

I've only noticed that they have become more nocturnal during the last 20years. They are evolving to become night movers.