Does?

[Boss Gobbler]

I had a guy ask me how shooting a ton of does helps produce more and bigger bucks. I said the things I had heard over the years but they didn't add up like they use to. Even though I have hunted for a long time I'am not sure I know they right responce. What's the responce

[Shrike]

This is straight out of the book Quality Whitetails relating to doe harvest objectives:

1. Balance the sex ratio.
2. Reduce herd density.
3. Increase reproduction and recruitment.
4. Reduce yearling buck dispersal.
5. Shorten the breeding season.
6. Shift the breeding season earlier.
7. Improve quality of yearling bucks.

[CSS archer]

Taking adult does will allow the buck fawns they have to live in the same home range they were born in. This increases buck survival and recruitment. Otherwise, those bucks are dispersed to surrounding properties. As a factor of that the neighbor's does that aren't getting whacked are running those bucks to your property.

As a rule I recommend to not take a buck unless it is "special",to take does instead. A special buck can be a 1st, or unique or large. If it not worth mounting then let it walk. We harvest 8-10 does to every buck where I hunt and we see more bucks than does.

[Boss Gobbler]

I live in northern ky. there is a lot of hunting pressure. An overabundance of does, and it is very hard to get people to except QDM. People here would rather shoot a small buck than a doe. I have practiced QDM for three years, and have seen the results. When there are more and more hunters every year here it is hard to get the results you want. I strive to only shoot 140 class deer or better, but here you may be lucky to see one or two of them of season. That may seem like a lot but not when you hunt three or more times a week. I guess it is just a conflict of interest some say if you shoot does you blow your cover, and others say shoot does for big bucks.

[raktrakr]

its hard to practice qdm especially if you hunt a 100 acre farm.even though you do your part.the neighbors are slaughtering the bucks and it makes you feel like your peeing in the wind

[rlb165]

Shrike/CSS, would you care to explain what "recruitement" means? I've seen it a few times lately, but I can't figure it out.<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thanks!

Richard Burton