Hey guys, how do you control an out of control deer herd? We have an estimate doe-buck ratio of 5-7:1. We just don't see big bucks during the rut (gun season in Mn) and we think because they are permanently locked down with does instead of searching. We only have about 6-8 hunters on our property with only my dad, brother, and I committed to here management. Any ideas on how to get closer to a 2:1 doe to buck ratio with about 3 guys? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
if you have a 2:1 doe:buck ratio, then those bucks are heading to some other property to find more does. A higher ratio on your property probably gives a greater chance of the buck coming back through the area looking for more does in heat. However, to anwer your question, I think the way you do it is only harvest does for a few years and leave all bucks alone.
How many acres with that many guys?! As always the answer will be shoot more does, at least hopefully you aren't the only one's in the neighborhood that are doing it though.
Personally I like a 3-4:1 doe to buck ratio. You will need to shoot more does - plain and simple - and maybe even pass up bucks for a year.
We try to only shoot 3 1/2 year old bucks, sometimes we take a new hunter out or something and younger bucks get shot. But not more than 1 a year which shouldn't cause our lack of big bucks. Collectively about 400-600 acres, i forget the actual number. The thing im worried about is that even if we shoot 3 does a year, we wouldn't even dent the doe population. We aren't too worried about bucks leaving our land, we have by far the most habitat work and the most reason for them to stay. And it will happen either way. We talk to our neighbors regularly and this is happening to others as well in the last few years. The areas we hunt have several "natural" sanctuaries that we either don't or can't hunt, so I believe the big bucks don't leave these areas until the rut is over Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh yeah, herds everywhere from 20-100. Have found a couple decent sheds so far that will be really nice bucks this coming year. To answer the original question, get those other 3-5 guys convinced to start helping with the doe population and that will help take out a lot more does.
Bring kids in and let them shoot does. You are going to have to shoot a lot to get to numbers you want.
It's not that complicated...as has already been said...shoot does and if you don't have enough hunters to manage the ratios you want then get more hunters. I doubt there's a shortage of hunters who would love permission to hunt even being restricted to does. The ratios being out of whack don't just affect why and when bucks are present but also more importantly the extra does effect the property's carrying capacity by limiting available food and water.
When you guys cut down in does, do you look for anything in particular when choosing does to shoot? Or first come first shot? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I pick out the oldest looking does in the herd and any that have anything that looks wrong with them like fibromatosis, etc and will target those first. I then target younger does around 2 years old. I try to set things up so that I'm left with prime healthy does that will do a good job of having fawns that are healthy and survive by being born foremost healthy and secondly by a naturally well timed birthing date. This also mimics what nature does through predation when predators and weather actively cull the old and weak (young). Lastly, I will actively avoid shooting the does that express characteristics I find attractive (keep your mind out of the gutter, lol). I like does that are big, sleek and smart and seem well coordinated and sharp. Sounds like a lot to keep in mind but once you've watched deer and worked around them for a while you develop a feel for what fits for your goals. When you get down to a group of does that are hard to choose from and still need to remove does, then you can take whatever suits your fancy.
