So far this season I have been able to tell that I have 3 different does and 2 shooter bucks visiting my area pretty often. Is it wise to not mess with any of those does for when the rut begins?

Honestly, less does mean the bucks have to search more for does to breed. More searching means more time on their feet at all times of the day. There are some that will say hold off shooting the does until after the rut, I say go ahead and stick one if the opportunity presents itself - it's only going to improve the buck-doe-ratio.

true less does mean the bucks need to search more, but having said that if you shoot a doe and she is with other does andthenitspooks the rest of the does, the chances of the does running back through are slim. Id wait!!! the arguement about an extra doe in the area means that bucks from other areas might come in too. The bucks you have on your property might chase a doe to the otherside of the county you wont see that buck for a month or two. use the does like bait right now, keep them happy. When the rut kicks off by me i see more bucks i have never seen before and the bucks i regonize are few and far between.

MAn what a great post.

If you'r eonly seeing 2-3 does on your grounds....chances are you aren't overrun, anyways. WHY shoot one of them? I'm ALL for taking does in the right circumstances.....but shooting does isn't the right thing to do on each piece of property. Rob/PA's hunting grounds are a PRIME example. He doesn't have an "abundance". He's taken what?????,,,,,,,,ONE in several years, there?

That's managing your land.....for what's there.