Wheres the deer?
11-22-2011, 07:29 PM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 98
I know this is not the case everywhere. But on our Florida lease the dern coyotes have really putting on the pressure. and the deer are extremely skittish.
Our club has declared war on the yotes.
There is a ranch in Florida that did a study with the University of Florida they found that Coyotes were killing 85% of their fawns. So they got aggressive setting up traps and shooting them on site. 85% WOW
Our club has declared war on the yotes.
There is a ranch in Florida that did a study with the University of Florida they found that Coyotes were killing 85% of their fawns. So they got aggressive setting up traps and shooting them on site. 85% WOW
11-23-2011, 04:54 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,202
If the ratio of bucks to does are out of proportion (more does than bucks) then taking more does is a great thing. If not then it's excessive to take only does. From my perspective, Maryland had mandated hunters could take only bucks in a lot of areas for years. What we have now as a result is less than profound rutting activity among other things. To compensate, the bag limits for does is virtually limitless in a lot of areas currently. Places like Texas go to great lengths (on private ranches anyway) to ensure the doe to buck ratio is proportional. In addition they take out inferior bucks.
Think about it. A mature doe has 2 maybe 3 fawns with each litter. If the bucks are limited in the area then the does mate with whoever is there. This means spikes and other non dominant bucks mate with them and continue that line since the competition is virtually nonexistent. Hence the significance of proper game management.
I tend to think that may be contributing to the lack of movement currently, but perhaps there are other factors as well. I saw of ray of hope today in my locale. I had two bucks feeding in my backyard that I haven't seen regularly and while driving to work I noticed a decent eight pointer (not a shooter) chasing a herd of about 7 does across the road. Maybe all hell breaks loose this weekend? If it wasn't for this dang warm weather...
Think about it. A mature doe has 2 maybe 3 fawns with each litter. If the bucks are limited in the area then the does mate with whoever is there. This means spikes and other non dominant bucks mate with them and continue that line since the competition is virtually nonexistent. Hence the significance of proper game management.
I tend to think that may be contributing to the lack of movement currently, but perhaps there are other factors as well. I saw of ray of hope today in my locale. I had two bucks feeding in my backyard that I haven't seen regularly and while driving to work I noticed a decent eight pointer (not a shooter) chasing a herd of about 7 does across the road. Maybe all hell breaks loose this weekend? If it wasn't for this dang warm weather...
