Theory on not shooting big does cause they carry big buck genes???

brad_vanderband1 · 09-09-2008, 05:41 PM

so a buddy of mine was explaining to me there herd control program. He says that they dont shoot large does do to the fact that the carry big buck genes. Well i was always brought up and taught to shoot the big does as they are mature and will ruin things faster than a mature buck. is it true that by doing this you could be hurting your big bucks, or is it to far fetched to try and put it in play??

GR8atta2d · 09-09-2008, 05:46 PM

How do you know what genes they carry??

blackpowderfever · 09-09-2008, 05:47 PM

From what I understand after a certain age (8 I believe) a doe will stop reproducing. I believe then is when they will do the most damage to a property because all they do is eat and can not help in sustaining new life to balance the property. If I am off the mark can someone please inform me.

TexasBowHunter · 09-09-2008, 05:47 PM

brad, I have read several articles on doe management and they seem to go either way. I like the QDMA findings and tend to really lean towards their articles and the last article I read that they put out was to take the older one's, they said that the mature deer will run the younger deer out of the area????? Who really knows....We have been managing our ranch for the last three years and that is one area I have mixed feelings about...Good luck with it!!!

Retaks · 09-09-2008, 05:50 PM

I was always told to shoot the little ones cause they are easier to drag. The more spots the better.

Ive never heard of that but i know once they stop reproducing they do nothing but eat and live. After they are done their reproducing age they are jsut taking up space. They get hit by cars around here soo much they rarely get to the age they stop reproducing though.

jimmy28303 · 09-09-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Retaks

I was always told to shoot the little ones cause they are easier to drag. The more spots the better.

Ive never heard of that but i know once they stop reproducing they do nothing but eat and live. After they are done their reproducing age they are jsut taking up space. They get hit by cars around here soo much they rarely get to the age they stop reproducing though.

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bigbulls · 09-09-2008, 06:51 PM

Just like bucks, does will first be immature and learning how to raise fawns, then in their prime and are the most capable of raising fawns, and then reach an age where they will begin the down hill slide and will eentually begin raising less healthy fawns. This is when you should take your does IMO at around 6 years old or so, after they are past their prime.

Keep in mind that a mature doe, in her prime, WILL raise healthier fawns and the mortality rate will should decrease if thereis a large number ofhealthy mature does giving birth. If you are shooting all the young does it will be jsutas detrimental to your heard as shooting all the young bucks.

You can look at any animal species, even humans. Which doe (woman), in general,has a better chance of raising good healthy children? The youngsters or the women?

Having said all of this, the young ones do taste better and are definetly easier to drag out of the woods, as Retaks said.

wahoohunter · 09-09-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: TexasBowHunter

brad, I have read several articles on doe management and they seem to go either way. I like the QDMA findings and tend to really lean towards their articles and the last article I read that they put out was to take the older one's, they said that the mature deer will run the younger deer out of the area????? Who really knows....We have been managing our ranch for the last three years and that is one area I have mixed feelings about...Good luck with it!!!

From my understanding the bolded statement there is partially right. The matriarch of the herd will usually run last years fawns away in the spring when the new fawns arrive. Usually, however, the does will return once this years fawns have matured a bit forming the doe groups that we see come hunting season.

One thing I have read more than once is that in taking out the matriarchs of the herd you can possibly ruin herd patterns as the matriarch often determines traveling patterns and herd dynamics. That being said, if a matriarch is harvested there is a chance that travel patterns willl change or (if given a small enough property) the doe herds that you see regularly may exit the premises as they no longer have a "leader" keeping them in the area.

I do agree with TexasBowHunter about having mixed feelings, we've gotten to where we try to take does out of each age group on the property in order to keep a good balance. Like bigbulls said, older does are more likely to provide better nurturing, however, it is still essential to keep the young does around!

nctaxi · 09-09-2008, 07:19 PM

Studies show that the doe carries half the genetic make up of every deer they reproduce. Although there is no way to tell what genes she carries..... The above statement holds true (wahoohunter)

brad_vanderband1 · 09-09-2008, 07:50 PM

well thanks for all you replies, its seems like a pretty mixed debate. In my mind I like to shoot the leader of the group as she is the wisest and will teach of hunters to her followers. Mature does seem to be just as smart as a mature buck, but by taking that lead doe out i dont believe there patterns are gonna change. what happens when you find a hot spot with a big buck, it gets shot or dies one way or another, just to have the spot taken over by another mature deer. i do understand the older does respect to be able to nurture fawns. and im not saying shoot all the large does, but i dont think the theory of only shooting little ones cause the large does hold big buck genes is right??!?