Comments on: Shooting Does With Fawns http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/ Deer Hunting and Habitat Management Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Hunter D http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/comment-page-1/#comment-2575 Hunter D Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:09:43 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/#comment-2575 I agree 100% with the author. We harvested what seemed like every doe on our propery to reach the quota... with the goal to do this before Thanksgiving. The reasoning...bucks will fight to get does...no matter the ratio...it's just going to happen on your ranch or lease one way or another. Why kill does late that were bred by the good bucks or does that another buck may have died over? We actually experienced less broken antlers this year than EVER before in 10 years of intense management!!! I agree 100% with the author. We harvested what seemed like every doe on our propery to reach the quota… with the goal to do this before Thanksgiving. The reasoning…bucks will fight to get does…no matter the ratio…it’s just going to happen on your ranch or lease one way or another. Why kill does late that were bred by the good bucks or does that another buck may have died over? We actually experienced less broken antlers this year than EVER before in 10 years of intense management!!!

]]> By: Adam http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/comment-page-1/#comment-1774 Adam Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:45:21 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/#comment-1774 This year in Bandera County, we have suffered severe drouth conditions, thus the fawn crop has also suffered. Here on our ranch, we are still in the process of reducing the doe population and I was wondering, if when deciding which does to shoot, if the deer with fawns represent healthier and stronger deer given that they raised a fawn during this severe drouth? This year in Bandera County, we have suffered severe drouth conditions, thus the fawn crop has also suffered. Here on our ranch, we are still in the process of reducing the doe population and I was wondering, if when deciding which does to shoot, if the deer with fawns represent healthier and stronger deer given that they raised a fawn during this severe drouth?

]]> By: Buck Manager http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/comment-page-1/#comment-1327 Buck Manager Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:13:10 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/#comment-1327 Bucks will always fight to some extent, regardless of the buck to doe ratio. Although some whitetail bucks break antlers and are hurt during these exchanges, the number of observed bucks with broken tines or hurt bucks does seem to increase as the number of bucks increases in proportion to the number of does. In short, 1 buck per 6 does means less buck fighting than 1 buck to 1 doe. As resources (does) become restricted, competition (between bucks) naturally has to increase and bucks pay the price. Russell has a good point here, but unfortunately there is little a manager can do. Carrying too many does means less fights between bucks, but also makes it more difficult to control the deer population... and more mouths to feed. Less does means more fighting between bucks, but most deer managers understand that some bucks will, unfortunately, get busted up. The result is hunters trying to harvest bucks earlier in the rut or even pre-rut period. And this is ok if the deer manager is content with the remaining bucks (young and old) taking care of the available does. This is why it's important to cull bucks at all age classes. Bucks will always fight to some extent, regardless of the buck to doe ratio. Although some whitetail bucks break antlers and are hurt during these exchanges, the number of observed bucks with broken tines or hurt bucks does seem to increase as the number of bucks increases in proportion to the number of does.

In short, 1 buck per 6 does means less buck fighting than 1 buck to 1 doe. As resources (does) become restricted, competition (between bucks) naturally has to increase and bucks pay the price. Russell has a good point here, but unfortunately there is little a manager can do. Carrying too many does means less fights between bucks, but also makes it more difficult to control the deer population… and more mouths to feed. Less does means more fighting between bucks, but most deer managers understand that some bucks will, unfortunately, get busted up. The result is hunters trying to harvest bucks earlier in the rut or even pre-rut period. And this is ok if the deer manager is content with the remaining bucks (young and old) taking care of the available does. This is why it’s important to cull bucks at all age classes.

]]> By: Russell http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/comment-page-1/#comment-1326 Russell Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:02:48 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/12/15/shooting-does-with-fawns/#comment-1326 Doe harvests (early vs. late), I believe an early kill is the best for two reasons: (1) reducing numbers on winter range, (2) you're not killing does that your better bucks have serviced before they get harvested as trophys. However, there is a problem your readers must consider. By reducing the number of breedable doe in the herd early, the intensity of the rut goes way up (i.e. fights) not just in numbers of deer seen chasing, but in fatalities. Not to mention broken tines, main beams, and cripplings... as you know a permanently injured leg will deform a buck's antlers for life. For years I've been looking for a solution to this major problem. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks- Russell Taylor STC Ranch Brownwood,Texas Doe harvests (early vs. late), I believe an early kill is the best for two reasons: (1) reducing numbers on winter range, (2) you’re not killing does that your better bucks have serviced before they get harvested as trophys. However, there is a problem your readers must consider. By reducing the number of breedable doe in the herd early, the intensity of the rut goes way up (i.e. fights) not just in numbers of deer seen chasing, but in fatalities. Not to mention broken tines, main beams, and cripplings… as you know a permanently injured leg will deform a buck’s antlers for life. For years I’ve been looking for a solution to this major problem. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks-

Russell Taylor
STC Ranch
Brownwood,Texas

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