Old Buck
Life Member
I know this is long for a post but it is good info. If you aren't a QDMA member articles like this are one of the reasons you may want to consider joining. If you have neighbors who don't think they need to harvest their excess does this may help.
AGGRESSIVE ANTLERLESS HARVEST
By Dave Edwards Jr.
Published in Quality Whitetails, August 2003, pgs 45-47
OK, so you have established some antler restrictions to protect young bucks. You are on your way to producing mature, quality bucks right? Well, it depends on whether or not you also have addressed harvesting an adequate number of does. In most cases, simply passing young bucks is not enough. You must also harvest enough does each year to maintain desirable habitat and herd conditions.
It’s time to dispel the myth that does are “buck magnetsâ€. This is something we hear a lot at QDMA short courses and seminars and in the field when doing consultant work. Does are not ‘buck magnetsâ€. In fact, too many does can actually have the opposite effect on a property’s buck population.
Quality Deer Management (QDMA) practices have become common throughout the whitetail’s range. The basic principles of QDM involve protecting young bucks from harvest while maintaining a desirable deer density and sex ratio through adequate doe harvest. Successful QDM programs result in deer herds with relatively balanced adult sex ratios, increased numbers of mature bucks, increased fawn production, and populations in balance with their habitat.
While most landowners and hunters understand these basic principles, many fail to harvest enough does to effectively enhance their deer herds. Many implement rigid antler restrictions to protect young bucks while neglecting to harvest enough does. This is not to say they are not taking any does, just not enough. Doe harvest recommendations are prescribed by biologists for a reason. When a doctor prescribes a drug to make you feel better, do you only take half? So it is with doe harvest prescriptions. To be effective, adequate doe harvest is essential.
It is not until hunters observe fewer mature bucks, decreased antler quality, and the absence of a noticeable rut, that they realize the importance of adequate doe harvest. By this time, the deer herd often has exceeded the property’s carrying capacity resulting in poor nutrition and habitat damage, decreased fawn production, a sex ratio heavily skewed toward females, and, even with protection, few mature bucks. (My note: With Iowa’s exceptional fertility, growing conditions and usually fairly mild winters, poor nutrition and decreased fawn production are usually not an issue. Habitat damage to forest, commercial crops and the wiping out food plots early in the season can be a problem. The other key issue is of course increased buck dispersal.)
Why is doe harvest such an important ingredient to successful QDM programs? If you are protecting young bucks from harvest, but not seeing results, where are they? While many factors influence the answers to these questions, including hunting practices on neighboring properties, poaching, size and shape of your property, etc., the answer is often found in how you are managing your own deer herd. Are you maintaining a desirable deer density? Have you balanced the adult sex ratio and made attempts to maintain it?
Too many hunters believe they can manage a deer herd for mature bucks by simply not harvesting young bucks. It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are not killing young bucks, they will remain in the herd until harvested at an older age. In some cases, this is true. In a quality deer herd where the deer density and sex ratio are being managed through doe harvest, protecting young bucks normally results in more mature bucks. However, in deer herds that are overpopulated with unbalanced sex ratios, protecting young bucks is often futile. Under these conditions, excessive doe numbers result in increased dispersal of young bucks and older bucks leaving in search of better habitat and herd conditions.
There is a dispersal phase in the life cycle of most animals and whitetails are no exception. Yearling bucks disperse at a higher rate, up to 90 percent in some populations, than any other sex or age class. While it was once thought that dispersal of yearling bucks was influenced by dominance of mature bucks and competition for breeding rights, recent studies have found that harassment from closely-related does, particularly their mothers, may be the most important factor.
In a University of Georgia study, researcher’s radio-tracked 15 male fawns orphaned shortly after weaning and 19 that grew up with their mothers. By 2 ½ years of age, 87 percent of the non-orphaned bucks had dispersed from their birth ranges, but only nine percent of the orphans had left. It is also important to note that survival among the orphaned bucks was higher than those with their mothers. Without an adequate doe harvest you might be protecting your young bucks, but they are being dispersed from your property by their mothers. As you can see, harvesting more does not only helps maintain a desirable deer density and sex ratio it also increases the probability of recruiting and retaining young bucks on your property.
Yearling buck dispersal often occurs during or just before the breeding season. Have you ever noticed that the majority of road-killed deer during this time are yearling bucks? Many have been “kicked out†of the areas in which they were born and are venturing into unfamiliar areas. The timing of this dispersal plays an important role as to when you should concentrate your doe harvest efforts. Some research suggests that harvesting a doe early in the season decreases the chances of here buck fawn dispersing and increases his chances of survival.
I am often asked which does to shoot, older ones or younger ones. In my opinion, the best one to shoot is the first adult doe that offers a clear shot. If you have a choice, shoot does with fawns, as long as the fawns are of weanable age which is approximately 60 days. Not only will this reduce dispersal, but identifying adult does is much easier when fawns are present. Harvesting a doe with fawns may be hard to stomach for some, but it accomplishes many good things for your deer herd. It helps maintain a healthy deer density, balanced adult sex ratio, and reduces yearling buck dispersal, which keeps more bucks on your property. Don’t worry about the fawns, research has shown that fawns have high survival rates when orphaned at a relatively early age.
Harvesting does also makes your property more attractive to bucks by creating good habitat and herd conditions. I have worked with landowners who were afraid to harvest does for fear their bucks would leave their property during the rut in search of additional does. This just isn’t so. If bucks are leaving, it is not to find more does. The truth is these bucks are leaving in search of better quality habitat and herd conditions.
Ideally, you want the bucks on your property to run out of does to breed during the rut as early as possible With a reduced breeding season, bucks do not lose as much weight and are able to “rebound†quicker and get a jump-start on body and antler development the following year. While a concise, intense breeding season is a key benefit of a balanced sex ratio, increased opportunities to harvest mature bucks are another. A balanced sex ratio increases competition among bucks for breeding rights and “forces†mature bucks to actively seek does making them more vulnerable to harvest.
In summary, if your goal is to produce and keep more bucks on your property, you must do more than simply protect young bucks. You should strive to reduce yearling buck dispersal and make your property as attractive as possible to bucks. What makes an area attractive to bucks? Good, quality habitat (bedding, escape, and quality foraging habitat) and quality herd conditions (desirable density, balanced adult sex ratio and buck age structure). How do you achieve these conditions? Hunters much harvest an adequate number of does, protect young bucks and manage their property to promote quality deer habitat. In other words, you have to swallow a full dose of QDM – not a partial dose.
The author, Dave Edwards, Jr. graduated from the University of Florida with a BS degree in Wildlife Ecology and has an MS degree in Wildlife Management from Mississippi State University. Dave is currently a Project Manager for Westervelt Wildlife Services.
AGGRESSIVE ANTLERLESS HARVEST
By Dave Edwards Jr.
Published in Quality Whitetails, August 2003, pgs 45-47
OK, so you have established some antler restrictions to protect young bucks. You are on your way to producing mature, quality bucks right? Well, it depends on whether or not you also have addressed harvesting an adequate number of does. In most cases, simply passing young bucks is not enough. You must also harvest enough does each year to maintain desirable habitat and herd conditions.
It’s time to dispel the myth that does are “buck magnetsâ€. This is something we hear a lot at QDMA short courses and seminars and in the field when doing consultant work. Does are not ‘buck magnetsâ€. In fact, too many does can actually have the opposite effect on a property’s buck population.
Quality Deer Management (QDMA) practices have become common throughout the whitetail’s range. The basic principles of QDM involve protecting young bucks from harvest while maintaining a desirable deer density and sex ratio through adequate doe harvest. Successful QDM programs result in deer herds with relatively balanced adult sex ratios, increased numbers of mature bucks, increased fawn production, and populations in balance with their habitat.
While most landowners and hunters understand these basic principles, many fail to harvest enough does to effectively enhance their deer herds. Many implement rigid antler restrictions to protect young bucks while neglecting to harvest enough does. This is not to say they are not taking any does, just not enough. Doe harvest recommendations are prescribed by biologists for a reason. When a doctor prescribes a drug to make you feel better, do you only take half? So it is with doe harvest prescriptions. To be effective, adequate doe harvest is essential.
It is not until hunters observe fewer mature bucks, decreased antler quality, and the absence of a noticeable rut, that they realize the importance of adequate doe harvest. By this time, the deer herd often has exceeded the property’s carrying capacity resulting in poor nutrition and habitat damage, decreased fawn production, a sex ratio heavily skewed toward females, and, even with protection, few mature bucks. (My note: With Iowa’s exceptional fertility, growing conditions and usually fairly mild winters, poor nutrition and decreased fawn production are usually not an issue. Habitat damage to forest, commercial crops and the wiping out food plots early in the season can be a problem. The other key issue is of course increased buck dispersal.)
Why is doe harvest such an important ingredient to successful QDM programs? If you are protecting young bucks from harvest, but not seeing results, where are they? While many factors influence the answers to these questions, including hunting practices on neighboring properties, poaching, size and shape of your property, etc., the answer is often found in how you are managing your own deer herd. Are you maintaining a desirable deer density? Have you balanced the adult sex ratio and made attempts to maintain it?
Too many hunters believe they can manage a deer herd for mature bucks by simply not harvesting young bucks. It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are not killing young bucks, they will remain in the herd until harvested at an older age. In some cases, this is true. In a quality deer herd where the deer density and sex ratio are being managed through doe harvest, protecting young bucks normally results in more mature bucks. However, in deer herds that are overpopulated with unbalanced sex ratios, protecting young bucks is often futile. Under these conditions, excessive doe numbers result in increased dispersal of young bucks and older bucks leaving in search of better habitat and herd conditions.
There is a dispersal phase in the life cycle of most animals and whitetails are no exception. Yearling bucks disperse at a higher rate, up to 90 percent in some populations, than any other sex or age class. While it was once thought that dispersal of yearling bucks was influenced by dominance of mature bucks and competition for breeding rights, recent studies have found that harassment from closely-related does, particularly their mothers, may be the most important factor.
In a University of Georgia study, researcher’s radio-tracked 15 male fawns orphaned shortly after weaning and 19 that grew up with their mothers. By 2 ½ years of age, 87 percent of the non-orphaned bucks had dispersed from their birth ranges, but only nine percent of the orphans had left. It is also important to note that survival among the orphaned bucks was higher than those with their mothers. Without an adequate doe harvest you might be protecting your young bucks, but they are being dispersed from your property by their mothers. As you can see, harvesting more does not only helps maintain a desirable deer density and sex ratio it also increases the probability of recruiting and retaining young bucks on your property.
Yearling buck dispersal often occurs during or just before the breeding season. Have you ever noticed that the majority of road-killed deer during this time are yearling bucks? Many have been “kicked out†of the areas in which they were born and are venturing into unfamiliar areas. The timing of this dispersal plays an important role as to when you should concentrate your doe harvest efforts. Some research suggests that harvesting a doe early in the season decreases the chances of here buck fawn dispersing and increases his chances of survival.
I am often asked which does to shoot, older ones or younger ones. In my opinion, the best one to shoot is the first adult doe that offers a clear shot. If you have a choice, shoot does with fawns, as long as the fawns are of weanable age which is approximately 60 days. Not only will this reduce dispersal, but identifying adult does is much easier when fawns are present. Harvesting a doe with fawns may be hard to stomach for some, but it accomplishes many good things for your deer herd. It helps maintain a healthy deer density, balanced adult sex ratio, and reduces yearling buck dispersal, which keeps more bucks on your property. Don’t worry about the fawns, research has shown that fawns have high survival rates when orphaned at a relatively early age.
Harvesting does also makes your property more attractive to bucks by creating good habitat and herd conditions. I have worked with landowners who were afraid to harvest does for fear their bucks would leave their property during the rut in search of additional does. This just isn’t so. If bucks are leaving, it is not to find more does. The truth is these bucks are leaving in search of better quality habitat and herd conditions.
Ideally, you want the bucks on your property to run out of does to breed during the rut as early as possible With a reduced breeding season, bucks do not lose as much weight and are able to “rebound†quicker and get a jump-start on body and antler development the following year. While a concise, intense breeding season is a key benefit of a balanced sex ratio, increased opportunities to harvest mature bucks are another. A balanced sex ratio increases competition among bucks for breeding rights and “forces†mature bucks to actively seek does making them more vulnerable to harvest.
In summary, if your goal is to produce and keep more bucks on your property, you must do more than simply protect young bucks. You should strive to reduce yearling buck dispersal and make your property as attractive as possible to bucks. What makes an area attractive to bucks? Good, quality habitat (bedding, escape, and quality foraging habitat) and quality herd conditions (desirable density, balanced adult sex ratio and buck age structure). How do you achieve these conditions? Hunters much harvest an adequate number of does, protect young bucks and manage their property to promote quality deer habitat. In other words, you have to swallow a full dose of QDM – not a partial dose.
The author, Dave Edwards, Jr. graduated from the University of Florida with a BS degree in Wildlife Ecology and has an MS degree in Wildlife Management from Mississippi State University. Dave is currently a Project Manager for Westervelt Wildlife Services.