Germ,

I still don't think being stressed out would affect the genetics (which are basically DNA imbedded in the swimmers).

I thought that there were 3 basic things wrong with too many does:

(1) Too many deer = overpopulated, not enough food, etc.

(2) Rut not as good = too many does to chase, don't need to travel as far, and

(3) Hope I say this clearly: In a well balanced ratio, often only those bucks that are dominant and genetically superior will get a chance to breed because they will push the genetically inferior or smaller (whatever the age) deer out of the way. But, if there is a 2:1 doe to buck ratio all of the bucks will get to breed (including genetically inferior ones). So, while a 1.5 year old buck might have some stud genes, the other non-dominant, inferior 1.5 bucks are still getting a piece of the action. So the overall gene pool could be lowered in that way.

Does that third point make sense? Are we all saying the same thing?