Buck Manager | Buck Manager

Shed Hunting Ideas

Whitetail hunters look forward to fall each year because it signifies deer hunting season. Shed hunters, on the other hand, look forward to very late winter and early spring because that means it’s time to search for dropped antlers! Okay, not everyone is on board with shed hunting, but for those of use that enjoy getting back out into the woods between seasons it can be quite rewarding, as well as informative. It’s also good exercise and helps hunters learn more about the woods they hunt.

Finding shed antlers is always cool. A shed antler lets me know that at some point in the recent past the buck that lost the antler was standing, traveling or bedding right there. It may not seem like much, but years of finding shed antlers can allow a hunter to get some good data about where antlers are lost, or better stated, where bucks are hanging out. From a deer management perspective, it can give hunters and landowners an idea of buck habitat use after the rut and before spring green-up. Continue reading “Shed Hunting Ideas”

How Long Do Deer Breed? Do Barren Does Exist?

White-tailed Deer Breeding & Fertility

White-tailed deer are prolific breeders, meaning they have the potential to reproduce and grow local deer populations quickly over just a few years. The majority of whitetail does will give birth to twin fawns each and every year after their first birth, when they usually have just a single fawn. One of the biggest deer management issues in many areas, both suburban and rural, continues to be deer overpopulation and the resulting degradation of habitat.

It would seem that deer are in large numbers everywhere, but the fact is they are not. Many hunters often encounter animals in the field that appear to be barren deer, does without fawns. So what gives? How long do deer breed?

“Is there such a thing as a barren doe? I believe there is, as I have shot quite a few does in the 115 to 130 pound-plus weight range that have no signs of ever lactating; very small nipples, no evidence of ever having a milk bag. The nipples, as well as milk bag, are tight to the belly as to have never produced. I have friends that argue the barren doe thing, but I am convinced that there is such a thing. My theory is that they come into heat, get bred, but are sterile and do not take. Could you clear this up please? Thank you.”

Are Barren Does Out There?

Although some number of barren does can inevitably be found somewhere, they are very rare, comprising less than one percent of the doe population. Research on free-ranging whitetail deer has found that does bred when less than a year of age (fawns basically) normally produced a single fawn, with 10 percent of these animals bearing twin fawns.

Older does average almost two fawns each annually; about 60 percent have twins, 30 percent have single fawns, 3 percent have triplets and 7 percent have complications that result in no fawns being produced. However, the overwhelming majority of “non-performers” are not barren and can go on to successfully produce fawns in the future.

Using the numbers above, this means that about 160 fawns are born for every 100 does in the population. This shows just how prolific white-tailed deer can be, but it’s important to remember that just because fawns were birthed does not mean that they will survive.

Factors that Impact Deer Reproduction

Habitat quality, as in protective/hiding cover for fawns, and food availability, for lactating does, is extremely important for recruiting fawns into the adult deer population. This is where many properties fall short: inadequate deer habitat.

Source: “Failure of does to breed is not a problem, so where do the fawns go? Life is full of dangers for a fawn, and food and cover (fawning habitat) is the difference in living and dying for fawns. In many parts of the state, predation is severe unless there is adequate hiding cover for young fawns. Imported fire-ants are a problem for fawns in heavily infested areas, but their impact can often mask the real problem. Adequate deer nutrition is often limiting, and if fawns make it past fire-ants and predators to weaning, they still face the challenge of finding food and cover.

Fawn survival depends primarily on habitat quality. Malnutrition and associated problems are probably responsible for poor fawn survival in much of the state. Dry conditions aggravate the problem of inadequate food. “Empty belly disease” is the most limiting factor on whitetails in Texas. Delayed rutting and breeding could cause fawns to be born late, which would be a disadvantage on ranges where food is scarce.”

Whitetail are Fertile, Productive Animals

In short, observing does without fawns is not a barren doe issue. A large number of does without fawns by their sides, especially those in good physical condition, is an indicator of other deer management issues. Although the most common limiting factor of deer populations in many areas is a lack of deer habitat management, or more bluntly stated, poor habitat quality, I don’t believe this is the case in the situation presented by the questioner above.

In Texas, does with body weights of 115 to 130 pounds would be considered quite healthy. When deer have good, healthy body weights, one would expect the habitat to also be in good condition and that fawn recruitment would be high. In the case above, it’s suspected that predators could be the problem rather than inadequate nutrition. So, how long do whitetail deer breed? Well, they will produce fawns as long as nutrition is adequate.

Providing good deer habitat typically alleviates predator issues in whitetail, but there have been instances when predators at extreme numbers, particularly within high-fenced ranches, can become a serious deer management issue. Barren does are not the problem, but predator numbers very well could be.

Late Season Deer Hunting

The white-tailed deer hunting season will be ending shortly, so there’s no better time than right now to employ a few late season deer hunting tips and tactics to bag that last-second buck. In Texas, many hunters take time off between Christmas and New Year’s in anticipation of putting deer on the ground, but whitetail bucks that have made it this far into the deer hunting season are well educated.

Still, there’s no need to panic. Careful planning combined with the wise use of time in the field can still result in a successful deer hunt later in the season, but let’s discuss some of the things you need to know to up your chances. Hopefully, these tips will tip the odds in your favor.

The Late Season: Deer Know

The hunting season has been on for a while and the deer are most definitely in the know. Patterns are extremely important to them. Not so much their patterns, but the patterns of hunters. A deer knows that the sound of a four wheeler running or a truck door closing means a hunter is in the area. Deer will stick with moving very early, before sunrise, and then after mid-morning, when most hunters have long left the field. It’s time to change things up. First, be quiet.

Next, be flexible. By late season, even young deer realize that bad things can happen to good deer that hang out too close to deer stands and deer feeders. Older deer will be on full alert and will avoid all of them. Instead of jumping into your stand out of habit, find a travel corridor and catch whitetail moving around your setup. Deer move even when you are not seeing them from your stand, they just know how to avoid the average hunter by late season. Deer will not expect you to be somewhere else, out of your stand. Put the wind in your favor and you will see deer.

Use Late Season Feeding to Pattern Deer

Another great late season deer hunting tip is to watch the moon. Deer naturally become more nocturnal, feeding during the night, as temperatures drop into the fall and winter, but their nightly movements are greatly reduced during the dark of the moon. Avoid full moon periods and stick with hunting the days around a new moon. This hunting tactic will also work in between nights that are hampered with heavy cloud cover. Whitetail will hold tight overnight, so be in the woods when daylight comes, especially when these conditions coincide with really cold temperatures.

This next hunting tip is a no-brainer, but it works. Look for deer foods. As mentioned previously, deer do not stop traveling altogether, but their movements will be modified late into the deer hunting season. Hunt food sources such as cool season forbs, winter food plots, or even deer feeders at non-traditional times. Whitetail deer have to move and eat more as the mercury drops, so find a food source and camp out on between late morning and early afternoon.

Weather for Late Season Hunting Success

A last, but often overlooked, deer hunting tip is to pay attention to the wind speed. Many deer hunters pay attention to wind direction, and rightfully so, but wind speed alone can dictate deer movement. High wind speeds (more than 15 mph) make for difficult hunting conditions and deer do not like to move during these times either. Whitetail deer are nervous creatures already, so high winds and lots of moving limbs do not help. High wind inhibits their ability to detect danger, so deer movement will be greatly suppressed.

Use a weather web site such as AccuWeather.com to get hour-by-hour temperature and wind direction and speed information for your hunting area. It may be the late season, but there is still plenty of deer hunting to be had. Find time to use these deer hunting tips and tactics in combination before the end of the season and the odds will be in your favor. Happy holiday hunting!

On Predator Control: Coyotes and Whitetail

Many hunters and landowners believe that predators are a major threat to deer management on their properties. Over most of the white-tailed deer’s range the primary predator of concern is the coyote. It’s true, coyotes do kill and eat deer. The real question is, “How many deer do coyotes kill each year?” That is a hard one to nail down because it depends on many local variables, but it is a question that many hunters and deer managers would like to have answered.

There are other animals that will also kill deer, such as bobcats, bears, feral hogs and mountain lions, but because of a hosts of variables, these species are typically believed to have little impact on local deer populations. But coyotes, well, that is one animal where most deer hunters will say predator control for the benefit for a whitetail deer herd should take place. It’s a rather simplistic view, but in a few cases it could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Continue reading “On Predator Control: Coyotes and Whitetail”

Determining Deer Harvest Goals on Small Properties

The white-tailed deer hunting season is underway and things, at least here in Central Texas, have definitely picked up over the past week. It had been tough hunting with tons of cool season forbs and, believe or not, acorns on the ground! The warmer temperatures did not help the early season deer hunting action either. However, whitetail bucks are now actively seeking out and staying with does. Most of the does observed over the past few days have had anxious bucks right on their heels. The rut is definitely on around here.

Many, but not all, hunters have commented that deer harvest is down in their areas due to an abundance of natural foods. Many places have reported corn just piling up under their feeders. It’s hard to believe that the little bit of rain the region received turned things around so quickly, but that’s very good for the deer. That said, many places involved in deer management programs still have harvest goals they would like to achieve. There is still plenty of hunting season left, so don’t panic yet.
Deer Hunting: Doe Hunting and Management Tips

Deer Hunting Small Acreage

A common question asked by hunters on lands located across the white-tailed deer’s range is, “How many does should we shoot?” As one might suspect, there are many variables that will determine the “right” answer to this question. Check out this real life scenario submitted by Brad from Illinois:

“I have a big concern with our family deer hunting property in southern Illinois. We had nine people hunting our 130 acre property during the first week of the shotgun season. During this time, there were only eight whitetail bucks seen, in which two were harvested. During that same time, we observed at least 20 does. We have only harvested one doe in the last 15 years and I’m having a problem with that.

We have six deer food plots on our property that range from about 1/8 to 1/4 acre in size. We also have a three acre lake and a pond. Our property is surrounded by woods and a majority of my family thinks that the hunters around us take out enough does and we do not have to harvest any. We have already had one blue tongue epidemic run through our area about five years ago. I am curious to know what you think about this.”

Tips for Hunting Small Tracts of Land

First, let me just say that nine hunters on 130 acres is a serious amount of deer hunting pressure. However, the important factor is not so much how many hunters are out there, but rather the number of deer on the place and the number of deer that are ultimately harvested. From a habitat management and a deer health standpoint, it is also important to consider how many deer should be out there. How many animals can this 130 acre property support?

When considering small acreage deer management, hunters must consider the reality that deer will move on and off the property at will. Even a doe will have a home range that is several hundred acres in size. Bucks will use larger areas, particularly during the rut. So how many does should you shoot?

There is no simple answer here, especially when the next question to be asked is, “How many do you have?” Deer surveys can help estimate the whitetail deer density in your area and are most beneficial on properties that are smaller than a couple hundred acres in size when neighboring lands are willing pitch in too. Surveys, as well as data from harvested animals, can help answer many questions for you. What percent of does are having fawns each year? Do the body weights of the deer found on my property indicate a healthy herd?

Based on the observations that Brad mentioned above, the buck to doe ratio in his situation is not all that bad, with one buck for every one and half does (at least before two bucks were shot). Some areas can be badly skewed towards females, with as many as five or six or more does per buck, so not bad for Brad. In his situation though, an important, missing component is the number of fawns observed. Fawn production is a good indicator of overall deer herd health.

Small Acreage Deer Hunting and Management

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, that trying to manage a deer herd on a small piece of land is difficult, and deer management is sometimes impossible, especially if small neighboring properties are not willing to work together towards a common goal. My recommendations in this situation would be to perform deer surveys prior to the deer hunting season, record deer harvest information such as age, antler and body weights and use habitat condition as a gauge for overall herd health.

Also, contact the state’s department of natural resources. They likely have a local biologist that can visit your property free of charge and offer some insight into the areas deer numbers based on information they have, as well as how whitetail deer are using the habitat found on your property.