Acorns are droppingThis will be only my 2nd year hunting OK Whitetail Deer, and lately the activity at my only feeder with a working camera has fallen off a cliff. I live 1000+ miles from my east-central hunting ground, so I'd much rather get some venison and excitement than potentially getting skunked. Thus, I hope to harvest two decent sized does ASAP, and maybe a basket 8+ buck, rather than devise an allegedly optimized plan involving a "shooter" buck and the right order to get does.
I'm not quite in the "If it's brown it's down" club, but I might be close
As my place evolves - with a mix of feeders, box blinds, ladder stands, plots, etc, I might get more picky as I get more confident about harvesting at least a couple of deer, yearly, off of my property.
my general hunting area has a pretty high density deer population. we shoot quite a few does. the vast majority with a muzzleloader and rifle. in my personal scenario, i dont think the timing of the harvest is near as important as the harvest itself.
ETA: does that blow or otherwise make a scene get removed. i also dont like shooting does when its really hot out, meat spoilage and flies can kick rocks.
ETA: does that blow or otherwise make a scene get removed. i also dont like shooting does when its really hot out, meat spoilage and flies can kick rocks.
I thought on this, rethought, and then rerethought about this over the years a bunch. Ideally I don't want to mess with a doe when it's hot, and I want them around when the bucks are on their feet looking. On the other hand, if I wait until after breeding, am I just removing all the future fawns(bucks) from does that were probably bred by quality bucks? For no more does than my family kills per years it's probably not a big deal. But if were were mega doe killers, we could EASILY take over 20 does after Thanksgiving and that would eventually hurt the antler population imo.
I have a different approach currently, while hunting two places that are 12 and 5 acres than i did when i had a lease.
I can't move toward bedding or food sources, so I'm stuck waiting on deer to come to me. I don't have the luxury of spooking the does and i learned that the hard way the first year we had our property. Now i hold off until after the rut, keeping them happy and comfortable using my place.
On larger property, i would take the first does i could to lessen the number before the rut.
I don't think there's a "right" blanket answer
The blowing does go, regardless.
I can't move toward bedding or food sources, so I'm stuck waiting on deer to come to me. I don't have the luxury of spooking the does and i learned that the hard way the first year we had our property. Now i hold off until after the rut, keeping them happy and comfortable using my place.
On larger property, i would take the first does i could to lessen the number before the rut.
I don't think there's a "right" blanket answer
The blowing does go, regardless.
You know what they say about opinions...
On another social media, I see folks (weekenders) that argue all day long with the folks (biologists) that have a vast knowledge in the subject.
On another social media, I see folks (weekenders) that argue all day long with the folks (biologists) that have a vast knowledge in the subject.
I will typically target does pre-rut. I think this helps the bucks by not burning energy on a lady that is going to die anyway.
We usually shoot 10-12 deer a year off our property and 70-80% are does.
We usually shoot 10-12 deer a year off our property and 70-80% are does.
For years, I would not shoot a doe until the last weekend of season. (Texas, long season)
Then, I was on lease that was over run with does. First year, I seen 2 bucks hanging in camp, none from stand.
We were allowed 5 does, 1 buck; does were legal first 2 weeks and last week of season.
Talked about the situation with GW. For next 7 years, I shot 2 does or more, opening weekend. Was 4th year before I could convince a few others to shoot does.
When hunting squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, hog; do you decide on which sex to target?
I try to seek out the GW before season and get their input on populations, ratios and recommendations. There isn't a blanket answer, area and populations differ.
Then, I was on lease that was over run with does. First year, I seen 2 bucks hanging in camp, none from stand.
We were allowed 5 does, 1 buck; does were legal first 2 weeks and last week of season.
Talked about the situation with GW. For next 7 years, I shot 2 does or more, opening weekend. Was 4th year before I could convince a few others to shoot does.
When hunting squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, hog; do you decide on which sex to target?
I try to seek out the GW before season and get their input on populations, ratios and recommendations. There isn't a blanket answer, area and populations differ.
I do on fowl and pheasant.
I went to a deer meeting once hosted by the ODWC. They said that you can harvest 43% and less does and still have a growth in population. That is why the push to shoot a bunch of them.
70% of the dove population does not survive 1 year. Hunters account for approximately 1% of that 70%. An insignificant amount.
There are 100s of opinions, possibly none correct, but they work as a whole, somehow. The Buffalo were almost wiped out. As well as other species.
The more we learn, the less we know. Misleading, skewed, cherry picked information and lies to support an agenda, don't help the situation.
There are 100s of opinions, possibly none correct, but they work as a whole, somehow. The Buffalo were almost wiped out. As well as other species.
The more we learn, the less we know. Misleading, skewed, cherry picked information and lies to support an agenda, don't help the situation.
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