I do not go out hunting with the intent to manipulate "my" herd is what I said. It is obvious that killing any deer will manipulate the herd to an extent.... But you, I and everyone else knew what I was saying. I do not manipulate the herd on purpose, this is just from a byproduct of hunting
You all have good points, and a long as deer have feet your never going to keep them on your tract of land A buck can walk a long way during the rut in just a hour, so thinking i am somehow changing (my) herd by shooting certain deer even on my 325 ac tract, my best tactic so far is by staying out of the best spots until the rut and wind conditions are right. My friend has a very small 2 acre plot that boarders a state owned wildlife area that is hunted hard during the season,his ground butts right up to it and is so thick with multi-flora rose bushes and cedar trees you have to take pocket shears and cut your way into the stand,and the deer are like rabbits running from you when you go into this spot, but 10 minutes to a 1/2 the deer come sneaking right back in... most fun a ever had hunting is in this spot.
Spin it how you want, but if you are passing younger bucks because they aren't big/old enough, then you are managing the land/herd. Just because you don't plant plots, selective cut, shoot does, etc., doesn't mean you aren't managing. It would be great if we all lived in areas where older and bigger bucks were more plentiful. Its not the case for many hunters. Its either make efforts to hopefully produce older bucks, settle for what you have, or travel somewhere else. Some hunters would rather improve the land they own/hunt, than hunt somewhere else.
So do you guys feel that the state wide antler restrictions help ? my ground fell under this new reg this year and there was a whole lot less shooting during the rifle season on my neighboring farms. also so many deer (smart ones) just move at night and i have seen studies where deer may move up to ten miles during the rut, I both bow and rifle hunt and my family kills deer i never seen during bow season even with my scouting cameras,so deer are either night runners or they came from another area.
Thats a tough one Steve. Im not used to hunting small tracts so I cant offer much input other than my opinion. It would be tough IMO to manage under the circumstances that you have with the neighbors, but you do see some shooters by passing younger bucks. Just keep hunting the way you do because it has worked for you in the past. Im luck to hunt 850 acres and hardly see other from our lease the whole season (there getting lazy) The surround areas are now privatly owned and not much hunting takes place on them. I to would look for more back up places. besides a chang in scenery is always nice
I have to completely disagree here. Just because someone passes on a small buck does not mean they are managing land. It could just mean they are more interested in shooting the big bucks that currently exist, than they are in shooting the small ones that currently exist. Has nothing to do with management. If I pass a buck on public land...I am suddenly "managing" it then?
I'm curious as to why you think you could lose it at a moments notice. If a guy can afford to buy a piece of hunting property it can be one of the best investments he ever makes...
Thank you sir. My point exactly. I am not managing anything, I am out trying to kill a big buck. Nothing more, nothing less.
To answer your Q Schultzy... I don't believe its remotely possible to manage your 55 acres of woods. A deer needs roughly 800 or more to live in throughout the year. You've stated yourself on more than one occasion your lack of sheds in spring... so you know already they not on your land. The best thing you can do is pass on the bucks you don't want to shoot... try to give them more reason to be on your land... and maybe get the neighbors to do the same. I'd look into creating better bedding more than anything... and simply ONLY hunting this 55 acres when its time to.
Believe it. I have a little over 1000 acres managed and the deer come and go all the time. Bucks especially will cover a huge area during the year and it varies from year to year. We have found where the same buck will shed his antlers well over a mile away from one year to the next. And that is with VERY little pressure in the area.
Bingo Mike. Thanks for the Input. This Is the kind of answer I was looking for. I don't believe 55 acres Is big enough either but I'm still going to keep doing what I'm doing and let the younger, smaller bucks go. Wow. That much eh? Not doubting you or arguing this at all. Just a bigger number then I thought and I'd bet It's a bigger number then most have to hunt. Honestly I think I have some good bedding areas around but I believe neighbors on both sides of me have a little better bedding areas. The woods I hunt borders a small lake and there's a bunch of cattails and small brushy tree's In the higher not as wet spots. The problem however Is the neighbors on both sides of me have 3 times the size of cattails and small brushy tree's then I do. I'd say there probably Isn't much I can do about the bedding part but the Idea of putting a small food plot Inside the woods In a few spots that are with In 100 yards or so of where these bedding area's start might not be a bad Idea. That thought has crossed my mind allot. The type of ground might be a pain In the ass to get stuff to grow though. Thanks for the Input everyone.
Then we can agree to disagree. Its just an opinion anyway. In my opinion, passing younger bucks is "managing" the deer herd, even if its only a small part of the equation.
Pretty much what has already been said, it takes a lot of lane to manage your deer herd and keep then on your property. I've always read about 1000 acres plus or minus. That being said, I think the best thing you can do is improve or add more bedding area. Unless you have the only food source around the deer have a lot of choices of what and where to eat. Making a better bedding area will attract more deer. Sometimes all you need to do is stay out of an area so it doesn't get disturbed. But the cattails you describe or tall grasses like Switch Grass will definately hold deer if they feel secure and don't get pushed out of there.
The best bedding areas are the ones the bucks are bothered the least and if they are disturbed having them feel secure in their escape routes. The thickest cover is not always best.
