Small property management for whitetails
 

Most of what I read on the net has to do with people wanted to enhance their property...and they don't own 5,000 acres. I have a study going for 6 years now on "Small property management for whitetails". I hope to put this into a user guide for landowners...when I find the time to write it.

Year
1 - did not harvest any does or bucks...whated to get the population of does up (I will explain later why) and wanted to increase the age of the bucks on the property.
2 - did not harvest any does or bucks...
3 - did not harvest any does or bucks...
4 - seen four 8 pt. bucks (110 BC range)and harvested one...let 4 walk for next year.
5 - seen one 9 pt (120 BC range), eight 8 pts, one 6 and one fork. I harvested the 9 pt and my cousin took one of the 8s. The 6 went across the road and got taken by the neighbor. Everything else walked.
6 (2005) - seen too many deer to count! I invited several people in to harvest does...after I took a beautiful 12 pt that scored 134 1/8 BC. I also video tapes two monsters that have to be in the 170 to 180 BC range. One got within 100 yds. but my corn plots where in the way for a shot. The other only came within 250 yds...no shot but great vidoe. I hope to see them both next year and I do have my Trail Cams out to maybe get a winter photo. I also will put my deer feeders out later to snag the antlers if I can be so lucky.

This is only on 158 acres.
The property started out with very low "carrying capacity".

My phylosophy...
1. Get your doe pop. up. Reason...with small property management you have to "attract and hold" your bucks to your property so they don't get harvested by the folks next door that shoot everything that walks. This is completely different if you have thousands of acres and it is fenced in.
2. To get the does up, you have to increase your property's carrying capacity. Too many does will destroy your habitat and food...unless you build it to sustain that level of population. I create cover and food sources to sustain 6 to 8 does on every 20 acres if I can...or at least on every 40 acres.

Here is the majic formula...

1 doe group = 1 dominant buck

4 doe groups = 4 dominant bucks...or at least potentially. My property proves that. I have at least 8 or 10 doe groups! and I have ALOT of dominant bucks.

Doe groups also hold your bucks to your "small property". Consider this, if a buck has 4 or 6 or 8 does andanother does runs by...what does he usually do? He ignores her. If he only has 2 or 3 does in his group...what does he do? He chases after her and across the property line...bang! There goes your 3 years of work and letting that little guy walk by to become the big guy. I try to create "ladies night" at the local pub and bar...in comparison to how I manage my does to manage my bucks.

3. FOOD! With this many deer...you better feed them or they will destroy your cover and food. My technique is to have 30% food, plus or minus depending on soils, topography, etc. That is at least 20% more than what you read elsewhere. I have a combination of several food sources in each 20 to 40 acre area for maturity of diverse food sources throughout the year. Also...I don't buy the expensive stuff. I have a farming background as well and I know where to get my stuff.

4. COVER! The cover needs to be designed and installed with "density" in mind. Good Shrub/Conifer plantings protecting food sources with ALOT of good tall thick native grass around it. This is not a easy walk in the park...this is premium deer habitat! Even with 40 acres of solid woods...this can be obtained...just will takea little more work.

5. Programs...who can afford all of this? I have a government background as well and I used to work with alot of the govt. programs. Did you know there are over 350 programs out there for landowners! I usually use about 10 to 15 programs when I am working ona property. Helps the pocket book some and allows engaging in the entire plan. Some programs do change from state to state but for the most part their are many options out there.

Make sense doesn't it? Keep in mind that this is not hypothetical...it was 6 years ago but now the proof is on my wall, on my video and on the Trail Cam. It really works well.

The management phylosophy that I developed I call "Management by Thirds"...meaning 1/3 woody/winter cover, protecting 1/3 diverse food sources and 1/3 nesting/brooding/bedding/loafing cover...you should see what this has done to my pheasant population!!

Start thinking how your land is currently set up and picture more thick cover areas, travel lanes, corridors, more food sources and optimum grass areas. That is a nice picture that you painted and it is ALOT of fun to recreate on!

Land DR

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

I have about 39 acres that I want to improve for the '06 season. It is somewhat hilly with a gully running through it and there are pine trees that provide thick cover. There is a power transmission line running on the outer edge and there is stream in that area. The rest is forested with a logging road snaking through the property. My plan for improving the area is to clear some trees to thin out the areas I think are too thick. I'll leave the gully untouched, as it probably is a desireable bedding area for the deer. I want to plant one food plot of an undetermined size, maybe have it bordering the cleared powerline easement. If I'm really motivated I may plant 50 crabapple trees that I can get from the forestry dept. for $68.

I want a good deer habitat, but I really don't know where to start for sure. One thing I know is that the trees will take some time to yield any results.

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

I agree with some of what you said. However, In order to have the numbers of decent bucks you describe, the local deer must have access to another "sanctuary property" other than your 158 acres.

Also - while your management strategy might work for you - if your neighbors all passed does too - it could be a nightmare.

I agree with building up the forage output- past the current carrying.

Also - glad to here that you have had success with your program.

FH

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

marinepride -

trees only take 6-10 years to start having a real impact - not that long at all. - Make sure you protect them wen they are young.

Even with food plots - it takes a couple generations of deer before you really see the benefit of the changes you've made.

Maximize your "edges" - that and preferred bedding areas are where its at.

One note about bedding. - The best bedding is where they like to bed - not always what seems good. One of my best bedding areas isn't 200 yds downwind of my hunting cabin. Years ago - I wouldn't ever have thought it good - but the beds in the snow don't lie. Other really great thickets - are hardly ever bedded in - go figure.

Look for what "your" deer prefer - food, cover, and habitatwise before you make any large changes - imitate what works if you can.

FH

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

Land DR,
all the gov't programs i could find only gave money if you let people hunt your ground. where did you find programs that don't require that?

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

Govt. programs - there are several govt. programs that require allowing access to your property...butmost do not. Since there are so many programs out there, it would be impossible to start listing them all out. Best would be to answer a few questions and we can go from there. I think Farm Hunter would also agree that he could also offer better advice and direction with a few more details. Here are some basic answers that we would need to offer more options...

- Address of property - (This allows me to access aerial photos, soils maps and topo maps for observing current landuse and management options. I have access to these resources through my TSP status with USDA. I will pass on these resources to you so that you may use them as well for your own property planning. Note...some states are not fully digitized yet and may require mapping the old fashion way.)
- Total acres of property-
- Total acres farmed - (approximate is fine as well)
- Cash rent per acre for crop land or what the going rate is -
- Total acres pasture or meadow -
- Cash rent per acre forpasture or meadow or what the going rate is -
- Total acres woodland -
- Goals and objectives - ...what do you want to accomplish
- What have you done so far -
- Any other info -

With this info, I may be able to quickly put together some resources and info for you to use with your own management. I will e-mail it all to you for review.

Starting - you really should have a good sound plan before you start. Identifying suitable soils and slopes is very important as well as identifying the current landuses. I would agree that you would not want to start re-doing an area that the deer already like to use. I would also wait on the decision to clear "thick areas" as those might be your current areas that the deer find safe refuge.

The reason I can hold so many deer and not be dependant on adjacent properties is due to the over-all design of the property. I have the "sanctuary property". No doubt that the deer wander across property lines but for the most part I am running a "bed and breakfest" rather than what most have as "travel through" properties as I describe them.

There is no cookie cutter plan as Farm Hunter has expressed as well. Take it one step at a time and maximize the options.

Land DR

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

Farm hunter & land Dr It is good to here from people that have a positive outlook on your land.
I own 150 acres in north west PA. here everyone is pissed about the doe slaughter.
I have been working on my land since I bought it. Apple trees ,two ponds & food plots have made it a deer magnet.Timber managment can not be over looked.
My land holds alot more than the 17 deer per square mile the state wants.

We need more people with small tracks to learn how to draw the deer to their land thru hunting season.Small bucks will grow & does will live.
The results are great our deer hunting gets better every year.
Good luck & thanks .Jim

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

I've got 19 acres in southern Illinois. It is all hard woods with considerable underbrush in some areas. At this point, portions of it are prime bedding areas. It also serves as a travel route for deer moving between larger landholdings. I have thought about trying to make some improvements on it for deer. But, I am also thinking that if its not broke don't try to fix it. Any thoughts?

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

If its not broke - don't fix it for sure.

19 acres - can be a great Hidey hole - but not a great management property (unless the neighbors manage as well). I'd concentrate on bedding over food.

However - should you have an open pasture/old field - a little food - or even better - a pond can add one more reason for the deer to hang close during legal hunting hours.

FH

RE: Small property management for whitetails
 

bawanajim -

Our property holds about 20 resident deer - estimate(200 acres) - thats more than 60 deer/square mile. - Its not hard to hold the deer - if you offer food year round to support them. Keep in mind the average deer - will consume3000 lbs of forage per year -(20 deer x 3000 = 60,000lbs food).

Too often people underestimate how much food deer really eat. Its helpful if your neighbor is a farmer - but if you border Open Hardwoods - you will not supporttoo many deer without a sound management program.

FH