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Buck Harvest Strategy and its Impact on Your Deer Herd

Harvest is a critical component of any white-tailed deer management program. Not only does hunter harvest play an important role in keeping deer numbers in check with the available habitat on your lease or ranch, but the harvest rate and types of animals removed determines what deer will remain on your property. Although this is important for all segments of your deer population, this is especially important for bucks.

A reader asked over the weekend: “Which is the best way to manage a deer herd? Shoot the does and nothing less than an 8-point buck, or shoot spikes and 4-point bucks to allow the larger bucks to mature, while also thinning does?”

Which Bucks to Shoot?

Well, the question is good one. The quick answer would be shoot all bucks with 4 or fewer antler points, older does, and keep your deer herd at carrying capacity for the habitat. And although this harvest strategy would work for the reader, it does not explain why this action would work.

Buck Harvest Strategy and its Impact on Your Deer Herd

First, I will assume that the carrying capacity of the property is known and that density, herd composition, and fawning success have been estimated through proper deer survey methods. Without this information it would be difficult to tell if any harvest strategy would work, because a high deer density or low buck to doe ratio either would mask or compound issues.

But, assuming that the property provides adequate habitat for the deer found on the ranch and the buck to doe ratio is healthy, then shooting bucks with 4 or less antler points and keeping the doe herd at its target level would improve your deer herd.

Managing Whitetail Bucks

With that said, let’s talk about why the 8+ point or better buck harvest strategy does not work. Simply said, the best yearling bucks (1 1/2 years old) can have 6, 7, 8 or even more points on their first set of antlers! Under and 8+ point strategy you subject your best bucks to be harvested right off the bat. This would cause severe high-grading of the yearling and 2 1/2 year old age classes and leave the genetically worst bucks.

Not only would this strategy allow these bucks to survive, but the hunter would be leaving them year after year to breed available does. This does not make sense.

Managing for Big Whitetail Bucks

On the other hand, it is better to put pressure on inferior young bucks if a good buck to doe ratio exists on the ranch. The level of pressure is up to the property owner, but without drastic measures you will not see drastic changes. Harvesting bucks with 4 points or less is a solid strategy for improving the buck segment of a deer herd. It may not help the short-term buck to doe ratio, but it will help in successive years because antler quality is high heritable. If it were not it would be impossible to manage for better bucks.

Lastly, an important component of this entire harvest scheme is to keep does at proper levels. In addition to continuing to keep does at the target number for the ranch, concentrate on removing older does when given the choice. Does provide half of a buck’s genetics. Removing older does that were sired by potentially genetically-poorer bucks leaves younger does that were sired by genetically-better bucks. Those does will then be bred by your better bucks. Of course, culling bucks at all age classes is still recommended.

Opening Weekend Slow, Bucks Still Out There

Texas’ General Deer Hunting Season opened over the past weekend to warm weather. As expected, hunters that took to the field reported seeing fewer white-tailed deer than expected and very little rutting activity. For hunters with more than a few seasons under are belts, a warm opener with limited deer movement is not unusual.

I reported that deer were interested in rutting in the Hill Country early last week, and they still are, but the increase in temperature has really slowed the deer down. Like us, deer can not be as active (for very long) when the mercury is trending upward.

Bucks will readily respond to cooler weather and even yesterday morning, with temperatures 10 degrees cooler than over the weekend, I spotted a buck chasing a doe — and the patient hunter above did, too.

The peak of the Hill Country rut usually occurs just before mid-November, so expect the next good cold front to really set the deer on fire. But, if you have yet to see many deer in your area you are not alone. Many deer processors reported lower numbers of deer being dropped off for processing over opening weekend.

To make matters worse, in those areas that received lower than average rainfall this year, hunters are reported bucks average to below average antler conditions with respect to age. Cooler weather may not increase antler quality or the total number of deer in your area, but it will help you see them.

The 8-point buck below was harvested on November 3 at 8:00 am in the eastern portion of the Hill Country and the hunter reported that the buck was chasing a doe. The 4 1/2 year old whitetail buck had an 18-inch inside spread, gross scored 130 Boone and Crockett points, and had a live weight of 169 pounds.

When Whitetail Bucks Lock Antlers

Each fall, as testosterone levels rise in white-tailed bucks they begin working off aggression by working rubs and building up much needed shoulder and neck muscles. It’s not an accident and if you’ve ever noticed the changes that a buck’s body undergoes between late August and late October, it really is amazing. However, as the breeding season — known as the rut by hunters — begins, whitetail bucks that were friendly towards one another during the antler growing period quickly become rivals. It’s all about a battle for space and access to receptive does.

The rut really takes its toll on bucks. Not only do bucks lose a substantial percentage of their body weight over the course of the breeding season, but buck to buck combat can lead to both direct and indirect mortality. Indirect mortality can come from wounds that become infected or even internal damage from fighting. Direct mortality, although more infrequent, can occur when two or three bucks’ antlers become locked together causing one or both animals to die.

This is the case today for one deer. I received these photos of two locked up white-tailed bucks from Minnesota. The guys that stumbled upon the bucks actually found them while one of the bucks was still alive. Instead of shooting the locked up buck, they managed to separate the two and send one lucky deer on his way. Here is the story: Continue reading “When Whitetail Bucks Lock Antlers”

The Central Texas Whitetail Rut Is On!

Central Texas Whitetail Rut

Are bucks rutting in Central Texas? It is about that time, after all. As hunters prepare to head to the field this weekend for the opening of Texas’ general deer hunting season, white-tailed deer in the central part of the state have already begun their rutting activity. Cooler weather combined with the last week in October is a recipe to kick off the deer breeding season in the Hill Country and, yes, bucks are already chasing does!

As a matter of fact, I received a call from the northern part of the Hill Country last week that several white-tailed bucks were following does quite closely, just waiting for estrus to kick in. This information falls in line with some reports from Mills and San Saba Counties, too. The fresh, cold weather that has blown in recently has deer on the move and, hunters looking to take advantage of deer being up on their hooves. The rut is likely not “on,” but bucks are anticipating what is about to happen.

What Causes the Rut?

Photoperiod, day length, is the number one cue when it comes to rut, but weather can be a factor with regard to activity. In addition to decreasing photoperiod, the cold front that rolled through the Central Texas recently really put the deer on the move, so we know does are cycling into estrus. A number of biological and behavioral changes are dependent on photoperiod, but cooler weather always seems to put bucks on the move.

Research has shown that deer move more when the weather is colder, so this no doubt applies to the rut or breeding period, as well. And it makes complete sense that deer would move more during cooler weather because moving around builds up body heat. Too much heat leads to overheating and then it’s time to shut it down. Same for us.

Signs of the Rut

Over the last week, I’ve seen several white-tailed bucks that were road-killed — a sure sign that bucks are not thinking straight. Then Monday morning, I spotted two different bucks chasing does in Burnet County, in locations where I’ve rarely seen deer. Deer out of place and deer visible during the middle of the day are tell-tale signs the whitetail breeding season is upon us.

If you are planning on heading to the field, particularly Central Texas, this week to bag your buck be prepared to see some rutting activity and stay a little longer — because rutting deer can move any time of the day. A lot of good bucks have been harvested during mid-day. You can blow a grunt call, use a decoy, or whatever secret magic you have at your disposal, but the peak of the rut means deer will be moving. Period. But if you don’t bag your buck during the early rut this weekend, don’t worry. The rut peaks on the eastern part of the Hill Country around November 10 and the Central and Western parts near November 30.

Impact of Pre-Rut Buck Harvest on Genetics

Early season deer hunting can be very effective because white-tailed bucks are more easily patterned prior to the rut. Novice deer managers may think that removing a high quality buck prior to the rut is a bad idea because it limits the buck’s ability to pass on his genes. Yes, harvesting a buck prior to the rut does limit his ability to pass on his genes, but it does not limit the ability of his offspring. When it comes to deer management we must manage the deer herd, not individual animals. If you manage the herd as a whole then good things will happen.

The most important aspect of managing the buck segment of the deer population on your property should be maintaing good quality bucks in each age class. If you are interested in improving antler quality of bucks then inferior bucks in each age class should be removed. Bucks that are deemed inferior (by your standards) in the yearling, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 year old age classes should be removed each year. By doing this you ensure that only the best quality bucks remain each year, pass on their genes, and once mature are ready for harvest. Continue reading “Impact of Pre-Rut Buck Harvest on Genetics”