Though many friends and people around me shoot does early in the season, I don't see the point in this. In many of these hunting spots, does are plentiful and we can take them any time during the season.

I figure: why shoot the does now (unless in need of food) when they will bring a buck to you during the rut? The more does around the more chance one will come in heat and walk past my stand.

Maybe I am getting this wrong butpeople are acting weird about it. I know I am not going to get everyone not to shoot does until later, which isn't the point.

Do you think it matters when you shoot does?

Or if there are not as many the bucks will have to roam longer to find one which means more time wondering under your stand possibly. As well as more fighting with each other for that doe, which in turn may help with rattling tactics.

The theory behind lowering the number of does is to create more competition between local bucks, thus increasing the number of hours spent looking for does, traveling, fighting, etc. The goal is to get big bucks moving during daylight.

I believe this works, to an extent. For the method to work, it has to be done on A LOT of ground. One guy hunting 50 ac. trying for a 1:1 ratio isn'tdoing himself much goodwhen everybody on all 4 sides of him is holding out for bucks only.

I 100% agree buckhunter~!

We have done a good job in are area of getting the ratio down.

It is not 1:1, but were getting there.

More doe's you have the less a big bucks will move, and why should he, he has more then enough love'in in his area.

Less doe's = more rut activity. I shot the biggest buck on our farm in MI this year(176'' NT). I also have shot a pile of doe's last ten years(18 in a3 year stretch). This guy was moving early and looking for love, in years past he would not have too. The reason I got him is because QDM, without a doubt!