Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
08-08-2007, 01:31 PM
#22
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
ORIGINAL: NEW61375
From QDMA site
" We are told that deer populations should be similar in attributes to those that were managed by wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and native Americans. A 1:1.3 sex ratio, bucks:does, is probably "natural," based on populations that are controlled primarily by natural predators today. There aren't many of these kinds of populations around but there are enough upon which to make educated guesses about the past. What's the Quality Management's solution to this? Moving from the traditional buck-oriented harvest system allows sex and age structures more like those of pre-Columbian times when predators and primitive man controlled populations."
Tons of good info there, for suppoerters and non supporters.
Doe harvests are important for many reasons thetwo most important in my mind are competitive breeding by bucks and more food. Deer eat an ungodly amount of food daily (stats to follow) so any reduction in herd only makes for improved habitat (more food)for the remainder.
From QDMA site
" We are told that deer populations should be similar in attributes to those that were managed by wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and native Americans. A 1:1.3 sex ratio, bucks:does, is probably "natural," based on populations that are controlled primarily by natural predators today. There aren't many of these kinds of populations around but there are enough upon which to make educated guesses about the past. What's the Quality Management's solution to this? Moving from the traditional buck-oriented harvest system allows sex and age structures more like those of pre-Columbian times when predators and primitive man controlled populations."
Tons of good info there, for suppoerters and non supporters.
Doe harvests are important for many reasons thetwo most important in my mind are competitive breeding by bucks and more food. Deer eat an ungodly amount of food daily (stats to follow) so any reduction in herd only makes for improved habitat (more food)for the remainder.
08-08-2007, 01:33 PM
#23
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Quick NC logic, here.....but I guess you guys are telling me that a doe has a higher propensity to give birth to a doe fawn.....OR....that predators like buck meat, more.
Maybe does have a longer shelf life.
Which is it?
Maybe does have a longer shelf life.
Which is it?
08-08-2007, 01:35 PM
#25
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3,763
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Personally in a completely natural envorionment i would think there would be more bucks then does. I would think does would be easier targets for wolfs and predators...
08-08-2007, 01:37 PM
#26
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
I think 1, LOL I heard the predators eat the antlers
Book called Deer Management 101 by Grant Woods Good read IMO
Here is MI logic, when the Rut starts and the does kick the fawn males out for a bit they are on their own. I would guess this makes them easy targets
_dan had made post awhile back about area he hunted that was not hunted by humans. If I recall he said the ratio was like 1:3. maybe he can chime in
Book called Deer Management 101 by Grant Woods Good read IMO
Here is MI logic, when the Rut starts and the does kick the fawn males out for a bit they are on their own. I would guess this makes them easy targets
_dan had made post awhile back about area he hunted that was not hunted by humans. If I recall he said the ratio was like 1:3. maybe he can chime in
08-08-2007, 01:40 PM
#27
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: down in a hole
Posts: 1,441
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
The chances of a fawn being a buck or doe is DEFINITELYNOT ALWAYS 50/50.
It all depends on the genes of the parents. What the recessive and dominant traits are determines many things about your deer.
If you've ever tried to have a baby boy but you end up having 10 little girls, ya ever wonder why? Because you and/or your wifes gender genes are femaledominant, and male recessive.
The only time it can truly be classified as 50/50is when one parent is male recessive/female dominant, and one parent is male dominant/female recessive.
It all depends on the genes of the parents. What the recessive and dominant traits are determines many things about your deer.
If you've ever tried to have a baby boy but you end up having 10 little girls, ya ever wonder why? Because you and/or your wifes gender genes are femaledominant, and male recessive.
The only time it can truly be classified as 50/50is when one parent is male recessive/female dominant, and one parent is male dominant/female recessive.
08-08-2007, 01:45 PM
#28
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenixville, PA USA
Posts: 5,541
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
ORIGINAL: Germ
New I have read 1:2, but who knows
New I have read 1:2, but who knows
Personally in a completely natural envorionment i would think there would be more bucks then does. I would think does would be easier targets for wolfs and predators...
08-08-2007, 01:46 PM
#29
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 139
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Do it this way. Shoot a doe, skin it, take the hindquarters and tenderloins, put them on ice, and take them to a local food bank. Then go back into the woods, hunt, and feel good about yourself that you just helped feed a few poor for the week.
Another thing.....food banks don't care if you tagged your deer out or not.
Another thing.....food banks don't care if you tagged your deer out or not.