12/13/2024
Interesting read. So many different opinions on this - hard to know whats right!!
THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN LYING TO US...
SHOULD YOU KILL YOUR DOE NUMBERS BACK?
This year I have had multiple clients, members, and followers contact me about doe harvest and the ideas behind harvesting doe to reduce the numbers.
I personally do not shoot my girls unless we want food or introducing a kid or adult to hunting. I have not put a strong focus on doe harvest except 1 property in the last 10 years and that one property was 2000 acres with 50% of the property low density and other 50% climbing to higher levels.
The idea that harvesting doe to get a 1 to 1 ratio is flawed to say it nice. My studies show property with 1 to 1 ratios can be some of the most intense rut activity yet lasting 70% shorter than a property with high density doe numbers. We also witnessed 1 to 1 equals high stress levels on bucks and doe. It equals longer recovery times after rut and this effects the growing seasons of bucks. We noticed more weight loss and much fewer opportunities as hunters outside the key rut days. We also had a very hard time finding bucks that had not already busted off tines, brows, and even beams due to higher competition fighting over the lower number of doe.
My properties with high numbers of doe had bucks that continued the checking or seeking process to see if the next doe was ready. The peak rut often was intense followed by weeks of bucks trickling in and out checking on the ladies to see who was available. The higher numbers equals less running, less competition, and less stress on the deer. The older bucks often seen just grouping up with the ladies and waiting sometimes. Longer rut opportunities, more deer sightings, and healthier herds have my vote. The healthier going in to late season the stronger and better the results will be come next growing season. Healthier doe and fawning always equals better starts and better buck results.
The industry has been saying shoot your doe back, thin the herd, get a balanced herd and more. The facts are as mentioned above and I am slowly seeing more and more wake up and realize that deer are valuable and not an issue until the Habitat release is less than the Habitat consumption. Often, deer spread when these issues occur and your property holding capacity may be maxed. You can always provide more, improve habitat, improve farm design, improve separation, improve quality of life and evaluate your effectiveness. If they are maxed out and life becomes stressful for them, then I recommend thinning but in a smart way. Hunt the pm hours and shoot doe come on to you from neighbors first for they are robbing you and raising kids off of you. Next look for deer that are nervous, jumpy, and doing anything that could teach younger deer to run or catch you. If a doe looks up a bunch she should go to prevent negative effects years later by learning to look up for predators. Last if a doe is extremely mean to others she may just run off the better genetic ones that want to live on you.
Lots of reasons to manage and no property is ever the same. No one carries the same goals always and you must design, hunt, and work to better the property results.
MESSAGE ME IF I CAN HELP. 901-233-0114 ROCKY BURRUS
