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Old 12-31-2009, 02:41 PM
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Remnard
Typical Buck
 
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As nature intended it. Typically a mature doe will have 2 offspring, one doe, one buck. Buck doe ratios become skewed when man interjects and manages a herd for size, and lets you shoot bucks only. this creates many problems like a skewed buck doe ratio. Ozoga says when they become unbalanced, does will often drop 2 male deer. http://www.chartingnature.com/books.cfm?book=B2073

This causes issues like late fawn dropping, as the does can't all get bred in the first estrus cycle, due to the shortage, if you will of dominant bucks. The result is fawns being dropped over several months, which causes predation skyrocketing because when they are all dropped at once there is safety in numbers. When they are dropped over several months the bears, coyotes and bobcats have a steady supply of fresh venison for several months. Also increased incidence of fawn mortality as they must reach a certain weight to carry them through the winter. Kind of defeats the purpose of bucks programs to raise herd numbers.
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