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Ideal number?

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Thinkin Rut

Thinkin Rut

PMA Member
What is the acceptable number of does we are shooting for as hunters? How many does would you need to see before you felt the need to cut the numbers? I know the land varies greatly but, will say you hunt a section of 30% cover and 70% crop and the cover is evenly dispersed, what would your ideal number be? I would be happy with 15 - 20 and at the end of the season I would trim that back slightly. Too high? Too low? Just curious.
 
I'm happy to see 3 does a sit but then when December comes I see close to 250-300 deer in the square mile out in the ag fields.
 
buckfever321 said:
You must have the only cover/food in the county. Holy hell. Have you actually counted that many?
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One night I counted 100 in one field then continued to see another field packed just as full and could see deer still in the timber coming out.

Doublerack has probably seen it too, he hunts near me and it's like every deer in the area ends up in that area as soon as we get a good snow.
 
CurtisWalker said:
One night I counted 100 in one field then continued to see another field packed just as full and could see deer still in the timber coming out.

Doublerack has probably seen it too, he hunts near me and it's like every deer in the area ends up in that area as soon as we get a good snow.
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Wow, I bet shed hunting is fun.
 
15-20 deer in a square mile seems ok given proper food cover water. I'd guess that numbers in the southern tier tend to be around 50+.
 
In western Iowa we would be happy with 5 per square mile, we are hurting over here big time. I can't believe that the DNR even thought about issuing doe tags in Harrison County, let alone 2,500! I can tell you having sat on the NRC for three years. No one in Des Moines is listening to the biologist, Lee Gladfelter is rolling over in his grave. God Bless him. Between him, Director Wilson and the CRP program at one time things were pretty good. Those days are gone, and in my view they won't return any time soon!
 
In that stituation, if I saw that many deer you bet I'd harvest a doe. I'm happy if I'm seeing 5-10 and that doesn't always happen. The only time I see 20 is during a sharp cold front on the perfect food source. Then every deer in the section might show up.
 
We have shot a doe for every 22 acres this year in my area and I think we are now getting the numbers down to where the habitat can support them. Hopefully with not see over-browse on the highly desirable tree/shrub species and over browsing on the ag fields....

I hope the most I see on a late season hunt is 15. 60-70 deer in a 34 acre field is too many during late season. I'll keep popping more if need be as I'd rather see fewer deer and healthier habitat as opposed to the other way around.

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