Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
08-09-2007, 05:35 AM
#71
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Given, mobo
I'm not so sure this is correct thinking.......though I could be wrong...
I'm not so sure it has anything to do with wheter "Mr. Big" is "around" , or not. Do the subordinant bucks attempt breeding when he's not in eyesight/olfactory range (in a perfectly natural environment)? Has the dominant buck not marked his territory .....in essence "daring" subordinates to breed?
Good discussion....and I admit I don't know.
I'm not so sure this is correct thinking.......though I could be wrong...
The #2 or#3 guy might not be able to fight worth spit,
Good discussion....and I admit I don't know.
08-09-2007, 07:14 AM
#74
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
From a Biologist, Emailed N-W-T-Fyesterday. I am a memeber and this is a fine organzation. Top notch IMO
They help me a lot 6 years ago get Turkeys on our farm. We now have a hunting population with some nice birds.
They help me a lot 6 years ago get Turkeys on our farm. We now have a hunting population with some nice birds.
Gary,[/align][/align]As with deer, there are about equal numbers of males and females at birth (hatching) with turkeys. Unlike the situation with deer in most places, though, there are still plenty of predators that help regulate turkey populations. Hens are especially vulnerable to predation during the nesting period, because they stay on the ground overnight all through the 28 days of incubation. Nationwide, hen mortality averages about 40 percent, with most occurring during nesting. On the whole, relatively few adult gobblers die as a result of predation; hunting accounts for most gobbler mortality. Research has shown that gobbler mortality due to hunting averages about 40 percent in many states, resulting in about equal mortality for hens and gobblers, more or less the 1:1 ratio that many deer managers strive for. So to sum things up, hen mortality due to predation and gobbler mortality due to hunting keep many turkey populations at approximately 1:1 without thespecial management strategiesthat are oftenrecommended for deer herds.[/align][/align]
Tom Hughes
NWTF Senior Wildlife Biologist
803-637-3106
[email protected]
[/align]
Tom Hughes
NWTF Senior Wildlife Biologist
803-637-3106
[email protected]
[/align]
08-09-2007, 08:44 AM
#77
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quincy, IL
Posts: 188
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Wow! I come back a day or two later to see if i get any responses and I have 8 pages of stuff to read!!! Maybe I'll just email this link to my uncle so he can see why his theories aren't right. Thanks guys!!!!
08-09-2007, 09:05 AM
#78
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chambersburg, PA
Posts: 812
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
Lets take a look at Pennsylvania. Back when I started hunting in the late 80's, it was nothing to see a herd of 30 deer running in a pack. Out of them a basket rack 5-6 point was considered a great buck. The weight on these deer would have been 125 lbs was a great sized deer. Now lets look at PA deer at present day after the anter restriction was put into place. A 5-6 point buck isn't even looked at twice by most vetern hunters, doe are now weighing 125 lbs and buck are hitting 160 or higher. You may only see 5 to 10 deer a day, but the quality of the deer are great!
08-09-2007, 09:54 AM
#79
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denton, Texas
Posts: 1,335
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
ORIGINAL: NEW61375
Only thing I can think of is turkeys have far more natural predators than whitetails.
ORIGINAL: drhntr178
I havent read all the posts but Ill throw in my 2 cents...Why does male only harvest work for turkeys but not for deer? In both species the males fight for dominance and extablish a pecking order. the males also mate with multiple females. Why does it work so well for one species and not the other?
(And dont try to throw in the argument about fall turkey season.The few hens harvested then does not even compare to the number of males taken in the spring)
I havent read all the posts but Ill throw in my 2 cents...Why does male only harvest work for turkeys but not for deer? In both species the males fight for dominance and extablish a pecking order. the males also mate with multiple females. Why does it work so well for one species and not the other?
(And dont try to throw in the argument about fall turkey season.The few hens harvested then does not even compare to the number of males taken in the spring)
08-09-2007, 11:15 AM
#80
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Summerfield OH USA
Posts: 798
RE: Is Harvesting Does Really the Right Thing to do?
My friend believes the same as your uncle.He just don't understand why he can have 20 does in the field every night,but once the rut comes in he never sees any good bucks chasing them.He has so many does the maturebucks don't need to chase and hunt for a receptive does.The does seek them instead.
