spineshot Posted September 4, 2005 Report Share Posted September 4, 2005 We hunt about 35 acres of woods. 1/2 bedding area the rest is hardwoods with about 5-10 acorn trees but not all producing. We have a feeder set up with some shell corn and we drop sweet corn when we have it. Also just planted a small food plot of brassicas, wheat. We are doing a little deer mgnt by not shooting anymore 1-2 year old bucks. We have seen on camera and live about 30 different does, fawns and bucks. IS THIS TOO MANY DEER. SHOULD WE TAKE A FEW DOES OFF. 7-8 different young bucks the rest does and fawns. There is also surrounding land that the deer come from and go to, so the deer arent stuck just on the 35 acres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thayer Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? What is drawing that many deer to your small woods? Is the deer count over a 10 day period? I can't imagine seeing that many on 35 acre plot. Usually, 35 deer per square mile is alot. What you could try is to pick out the lead does and bust them, then look to the older bucks, 3 1/2 year olds or better. Whatever you are doing to draw them into your area, keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? The carrying capacity depends mainly on the available food. 35 deer per sq mile is not too many if there is sufficient food. Here in the county we live in the estimate is under 15 per sq., but I have seen 20 some odd deer one small field behind the house at one time. There are some counties in this state where the deer per sq mile number is over 45. From what I have seen around here I think deer do have kind of core areas, and the core areas can overlap, meaning that your woods might be in an area where several groups of deer at times might share common ground. As far as managing, it would not hurt, and really would probably help to remove some of the older does from the heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? I imagine a lot of the deer pics you're getting are from a trail camera set up on the feeder. You're going to pull deer in from surrounding property to your feeder. Planting food plots will definately help the carrying capacity of the area and draw more deer to your land than without them but carrying capacity is an ever changing thing based on many variables including such things as time of year, available crops, water, mast crop, etc.. It's not constant at all. I honestly believe you should be taking about 2 does out (1 1/2 years or older) for every buck you kill. According to our biologist report for our club that I read yesterday, he agrees with that same age criteria for killing does to manage the herd too. Only thing is he want's us to take out more than a 2 doe to 1 buck ratio on our property and we've been killing does on an average of about a 2 to 1 ratio in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? Well experts say 2:1 or even 1:1 but I say if the deer look healthy then you are doing a fine job manage the herd the best you can try and take some of them does is the advice I would give. But I dont think theres any specific rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? 2:1 or 1:1 is the best, so I've heard. I can't imagine getting down to 2:1 unless you're running a hunting guide operation and have access to many hunters taking does. On normal land you have to just make sure they have enough to eat and good water - otherwise they will be on someone else's land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossman Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? I don't think 35 acres is enough land to even attempt to manage deer unless the hunters on the surrounding land have the same idea as you. If you could get the surrounding hunters to get on the same page as you, then worry about deer density and management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? I think that the one obvious fact is that the buck to doe ratio is at least 1:4 in your area just based on the numbers you have seen. This is also a good basis for needing to take at least 3 does for every buck you plan to harvest. You may be helping the deer with your feeder right now, but if you stopped then a lot of deer might go hungry in the winter time or even during the most crucial time of birth in the spring. If you feed the deer year round then great, but keep it up so the deer don't come to rely on your feeder and then have it taken away. Remember that it takes deer 2 weeks for their system to adjust to new foods and to absorb all of the nutrients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest La_Biologist Posted September 12, 2005 Report Share Posted September 12, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? It all depends on the carrying capacity of your land. Jason was right, if your land can't support your herd number as far as feed and space the deer will move else where. With the tract being 35 acres, these deer may frequent other areas and come to your food plots and bait piles because they know it is an easy source for food. In a perfect world the buck to doe ratio would be even, but the less does per buck you have the better. Now, if the land around you has a high density and there is no where for the deer to go if the forage on your land is depleated, mother nature will begin to take part in bringing the herd back to carrying capacity. I think it would be fine to take some of your does. Try to find the alpha does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? I think that it would be difficult to manage your plot unless other landowners and hunters around you are involved. Several factors determine the carrying capacity of any given hunting area and without more info it would be difficult to say. I do recommend shooting older does and inferior bucks over the age of 4.5 years. In my opinion, this is the fastest way to improve your deer herds genetic frequency and improve the overall antler size. This is just one of many things you can do to improve your hunting. Without high fence it would be next to impossible to achieve a buck to doe ratio of less than 1:2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest generallee Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Re: What is a healthy deer density??? i agree with rossman.....it doesnt matter if you let those young bucks walk if the neighbors are gonna kill them anyway, and with only 35 acres, they will definatly be moving on and off your property throughout the year....you might want to talk to them and see if they want to help your efforts to manage the deer. As far as the does go....it never hurts to pop a few of'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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