New Guy here with a question on management practices. Question then I' ll give background. Do we need to take does? Sounds silly, but here is the background.

350 acre lease in medium density deer population in TN. Property is surrounded by about 1500 acres of oak ridges and small hay fields and has a few small subdivisions outside this. Within 5 mile radius we have 2 large golf course communities with deer problems(slow down driving thru). Our lease is mostly pine thickets 10-20' with thick undergrowth and plenty of food. Part has been wiped out by beetles, knocked down in storms, and impossible to walk thru with the new growth. Few small foodplots and bushhogged roads planted in clover. About only way to hunt is set over these or on edge. Hunting pressure on surrounding areas is moderate.

Current rules: Mountable bucks only, except for the kids. No complaints as we took 11 nice bucks in last 2 years up to 140 class. Plus a few more nice deer poached on us I have found out about. We are still seeing nice bucks every year.

Point has been made that we are safe haven bedding area for does and are drawing bucks from the 5 mile radius. No need to take does.

Point has been made that does tend to run off young bucks that relocate. To which the point has been made that they come back when older.

Would appreciate suggestions on harvest rules and QDM. Habitat improvement for a pine thicket. Anyone got a hunting setup suggestion?

Thanks

I would think that the harvesting of some does might be in order. Especially some of the older does. If the parks, etc. show a surplus, it might help to thin out some. A bucks only system could cause problems down the road. The bucks only system has caused many problems in the past and we need to learn from the mistakes previously made. If your doe populaation is as big as it seems, some harvesting may work out to your benifit.
Russ

You need to do a census. Estimating your population density is the first part of any program. Do your census right after huning season while the leaves are still off the trees. You can could reasonable numbers with a spot light survey, but most counts are +- 70%. Population growth is at its peak when mainting between 50-60% of carrying capacity.

The diperal of any herd is social pressure on the males. this helps keep inbreeding and incestuos behavior down. Does tend not to go as far. Unfamiliar range can lead to higher fawm death rate and the use sub standard range.

harvest some does but do it quietly with a bow atleast a dozen and you still wont be able to tell you did anything, just a suggestion

Go to the harvest ratio thread...

I say harvest more does than bucks but not by many maby 1 buck 2 does or 1 buck 1.5 does something like that. Bucks only is bad, id be like the male population of the world being killed off than what would happen, population wouldnt increase more decrese if you had 70% femal 30% male.


BUT REMEMBER ONLY KILL WHAT YOUR GUNNA EAT