Managing DEER?

[Hardwood11]

Another factor that most are not aware of here that may well be a contributor to Ed having more nice buck sightings on his place nowadays is that there used to be more dogs on the loose in that neighborhood than there is nowadays too.

Also, the land in question was hunted prior to this current outfitter leasing it and I am almost positive that the pressure there is less these days and I am sure it is more controlled. Also, Ed has done a lot of nice work on his place over the past several years to be a more attractive place too. IMO, it is probably a range of things in combination that would explain the uptick in better buck sightings.

I suppose it could be just more bucks alive in the area??

 

[hans1]

Tough without more answers to the pressure on surrounding property's. If the goal for the property is managing for ultra high end then 2 bucks of 5-6 a year plus as many culls as nessecary. The outfitting on the neighboring place is very much a wild card. I do some guiding and understand both sides of this issue I have better luck now with ton of cameras and using my iPad to manage all the photos by farm. Still very tough one of my guys killed a one late season this passed year that we knew was 3 or 4 and scored 165 we had showed him all the pics and he was sure this was not that buck til we found it. As far as some of the comments about not fining a hunter for fear of upsetting a client I am notworried about thAt at all. I would worry more about upsetting my other clients that passed tons of bucks and go home with out. Although feel that we do the best job possible it is still very hard to manage for high end deer and guide.

 

[Oct-Lull]

Oh, in this case...I would say 4-6 bucks per year could be taken and still keep it good year to year.

I will be the first to say in have a lot to learn on harvest management. Every region is different and I hunt land that is relatively unmanaged, without food plot s. Smaller farms and state land mostly. So I am curious about this statement, and if control and food can make this big a difference. Skip, be interested in hearing your take since you seem to have a firm grasp. I realize we are not strictly talking about the 600 acres like its fenced. If you took 6 mature bucks, 41/2 and older, a year, that's one per 100 acres. Factor in natural mortality say 2 more on the low side. So 8 mature bucks are taken out per year on that farm. Can it sustain that with the proper management? Along with natural factors? I am asking because it seems like a lot, but strongly managed farms are something I do not have experience with.

 

[Daver]

I will be the first to say in have a lot to learn on harvest management. Every region is different and I hunt land that is relatively unmanaged, without food plot s. Smaller farms and state land mostly. So I am curious about this statement, and if control and food can make this big a difference. Skip, be interested in hearing your take since you seem to have a firm grasp. I realize we are not strictly talking about the 600 acres like its fenced. If you took 6 mature bucks, 41/2 and older, a year, that's one per 100 acres. Factor in natural mortality say 2 more on the low side. So 8 mature bucks are taken out per year on that farm. Can it sustain that with the proper management? Along with natural factors? I am asking because it seems like a lot, but strongly managed farms are something I do not have experience with.

Oct - my answer of 4-6 bucks per year did not necessarily mean all 4-1/2+, it was bucks. A really rough rule of thumb to me is 1 buck per 100 acres, but that would not necessarily just be fully mature bucks.

But there are so many factors that this is just a "hypotheoretical" question to me. In this case, I do know the land that Ed was referring to and it is a prime habitat area, so I would lean towards the the strong side of the 1 buck to 100 acres ratio per year.