QDM Fanatics - Read On...

689 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BackStrap, Dec 29, 2003

BackStrap

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2003

Gentlemen -

I am interested in managing my father's land for larger bucks and a better buck:doe ratio. How would you go about it in my case.

The facts:

70 acres - 60% high grass/shrub (3-6 feet) and 30% woods...7 ponds and a 3 acre clover field. I estimate that around 50 different deer cross/feed/bed on the land every day. In early season it is nothing to see 15 different bucks. Usually we see 1 or 2 bucks with 100"+ antler growth each year. Our neighbors for the most part won't shoot doe. They do however shoot every buck they can (yes, admittedly more than 2 each if able). By the 3rd day of gun season there isn't a buck to be seen other than buttons. This frustrates me. I will not get the DNR involved because we are bow hunters and need neighbor permission to track animals. I feel it is useless to even attempt any sort of management.

What do you suggest?

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johnhunter

· #2 · Dec 23, 2003

Number One: Shoot every single doe you see; old ones, young ones, and everything in between. If you've got 50 deer spending time on your 70 acres every day, you've got WAY too many deer, and it is likely causing social stress issues within the local herd, and makes for a bad situation on multiple levels.

Other things, like working out some sort of cooperation with neighbors, education, habitat changes, etc. take a back seat until you get problem #1 solved.

Get out there and shoot some does.

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johnhunter

· #7 · Dec 25, 2003

Bob, you beat me to it.

As one member put it (something like this):

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
I've got seven shells for my rifle,
and 'cause young bucks need room to grow,
kill a doe, kill a doe, kill a doe!"

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johnhunter

· #9 · Dec 25, 2003

He didn't say he saw 50 deer per day on his property, nor did Bob say he did. He estimated that 50 deer use his property each day. A pretty big number on 70 acres.

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