Bucks have nothing to do with buck management. I know that sounds preposterous, but in reality, managing doe harvests has a greater impact on buck numbers and sizes than you realize.
Hunting Clubs can significantly increase the number of bucks they have to hunt and the size of those bucks by doing two things…
- Monitor the Doe:Buck ratio
- Adjust doe harvest plans accordingly to manage it
A given piece of property can only support a certain number of deer, and it is up to hunters to determine how many bucks they want and how many does they want. A surplus of does will not only consume valuable high quality food resources that could be saved for bucks, a large group of does can actually prevent bucks from taking up residence on your property due to social pressures…i.e. large doe groups many times will not let a new buck take up residence in “their” territory.
This is where managing the Doe:Buck ratio is important. If a club can monitor deer sightings and use this information to determine the ratio, harvest plans can be put in place to optimize the conditions for new bucks to take up residence on your property.
What is the end result of consistently monitoring your ratio and keeping doe numbers in check? More bucks living on your property and more high quality food for them to maximize antler development. Win win situation…
