I have been hunting a farm in east Texas for the past 2 years (for free)and they asked me if I would take up wildlife managemet on the property (500 ac) low fenced. Of course I accepted the challange. However, I do not think they are going to give me full range of mgmt. Mostly in the area of deer harvesting to bring the ratio down. The old man isold school, and does not think you should shoot does.

I am familiar with some aspects of mgmt. but would like to know if there are any publications that could assist me in this venture or if anyone has some imput, specifically on what is considered a cull buck. The property is overrun with spikes, 4pt and some without brow tines.

This would be a part time operation, as I have a full time job that pays the bills.

They are interested inimproving the quality of what they have and not so much of growing monster deer. I know there needs to be at least 2 food plots on the property and protien and heard reduction and some serious culling.

Any advise or direction would be great.

Good luck, you need to convince him does need to come out. With a high D:B ratio you will never see the potential of the property. All managment practice like QDM and trophy managment means taking out does. My personal belief on culling bucks is not untill the D:B is in check. Then you can finally see the genetic make up of the bucks.

QDMA.com has lots of info and a great magazine

try "grow 'em right" by Neil Dougherty. He is very successful in the Northeast. Google it, you will get a bunch of Amazon.com hits as well as other places to order from. It has good food plot info.

First off, DON'T cull any bucks! Those bucks may be spikes because they are being born late in the year due to a skewed Buck to Doe ratio. There are many cases of "Cull Spikes" that grew to be Boone and Crockett size whitetails( See Charlie Alsheimer, and John Ozoga's research.

Secondly: You need to determine the carrying capacity of the land. That means finding out how many deer the property can hold WITHOUT supplemental feeding At the worst time of the year. (Summer for you?)

Buy this book: Producing quality Whitetails BY Al Brothers and Murphy Ray jr.
And this book: Quality Whitetails, The why and how of Whitetail Management, By Karl V. Miller and Larry Marchinton.
Any books by James C Kroll and Grant Woods also.

The "old man" Has to learn that EVERY management situation requires shooting Does.

Have fun, and remember you can't unkill a deer. It's better to let them live one more year and take them out later on if it is deemed necessary.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c142/z282z06/10.jpg

"Deer Management 101" by Grant Woods is a good book to read when you are just starting out...a lot of good info in there. "Grow Em Right" by Neil& Craig Daugherty is a good book if you are not going to do any forest management because it stops way short in that aspect...pick and choose from that book what applies to your individual property. Getting your buck to doe ratio as balanced as you can and the population within the carrying capacityshould be your top priorities. Do not cull bucks...it is much more important for the health of the herd to have mature bucks in the herd to suppress breeding of the younger bucks..."Deer Management 101" goes into detail about this.Feel free to drop me a line if you ever have any specific questions...PM or e-mail me at [email protected]. I try to get to everyone...even ifthey aren'tclients.