Deer Management

[bvo]

I have recently purchased 85 acres this summer. The property in the area has been know to produce nice bucks. I have 5 cameras in good locations and have hunted all this season. I have already filled my buck tag. However, I keep seeing 3 particular doe on my property. But, that is the only doe I have been seeing. 1 of the doe have been tending to her twin button buck fawns. I am almost sure these are resident deer. My question is, should I consider taking a couple doe off the property, or should I let them walk this year to hope to be bred and have a chance to produce bucks for the future? The property is located in zone 4.

[skin_dog1]

I'd be inclined to let the does walk. I might shoot the one with the tein button bucks. Theory is they won't be displaced by here therby increasing your buck nmbers in the future. Probably hogwash, but if I werre gonna shoot a doe it would be her. I'd imagine she's run those little BB's off by now anyway.

[Little Scout]

She the doe that is the mother of the two bb's! and another if you like the meat. Others will take their place, and it will give the Button bucks more range and food for the future. Helping them to grow and grow faster. Just my 2 cents.

[Scott7m]

don't shoot the buttons........

if thats one of the only does your seeing on the property then let her live, i'd wait til i seen my property holding a few mature does before removing them.

[bvo]

Thanks for all your tips and opinions. Not shooting the does was my first thought as well. I am still seeing the mother of the two bb's and she still has them with her and seems to be kinda tending (watching out for) them as well. I am going to try to let my son take a doe with his bow. I have filled my buck tag during smoke pole season, however, I am now itching to drop the hammer again. I'm kinda like the guy that has a problem with withdraws from the adrenaline rush of a successfull hunt.

[arshooter]

dont mean too knock it but you cant manage 85 acres....

[skin_dog1]

dont mean too knock it but you cant manage 85 acres....

I disagree. He isn't gonna grow any booners, but he can make his 85 acres more attractive to deer and hold some deer when pressure starts elsewhere. You're right that he can't grow a herd, a deers range is too much, but ake that 85 acres the most attractive 85 acres around and deer will find it and use it. Be selective about your harvest and every little bit counts.

[capnball45]

Managing for deer is more than shooting them. Their requirements are much like our own. Food, water, shelter and these are annual requirements. If you can produce these 3 things in any quantity, the deer will take care of themselves and be there when you need 1,2,or 3 of them. If you cant produce all the needs of a deer, then enhance what you have to a greater level than the surrounding area. Most QMD programs call for a 1 to 1 ratio bucks and does. We always have more does than bucks at our place, and thats not so bad since we do some tree farming and bucks can be rough on young trees. What do you want from your land? To draw a monster buck, its got to be good.

[Remington Rules]

I have worked for several years to manage our small farm and it is impossible to do everyone else hunts on our property edge which is there right, but they kill evrything that moves.We have mineral blocks out all year and food but i can not make it work.

[vabirddog]

I hunt several small places here in va and the one thing that holds deer on those properties best is a sanctuary. Some block of good cover that you leave alone. I hunt one cattle farm about 120 acres mostly fields and fencerow but they leave a block of about 25 acres of thicket that we only enter to retrieve a deer or make a couple drives at years end. It keeps deer on the place and we usually have more deer at seasons end than at its start because deer have a place they are never run out of. You wouldn't believe the deer in there. Of course you have to be smart about stand placement, pressuring deer to much, hunting the wind. etc. As a result we watch nice bucks all season long. 80 acres that you can manage all of is plenty.