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Ames Deer Population
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<blockquote data-quote="Andy S." data-source="post: 4656900" data-attributes="member: 131"><p>There is enough crops, food, browse, and cover at Ames to support 50-60 deer per square mile, EASILY. But, that will never happen because Ames Plantation is not managed for deer. The deer club is just one part of a bigger economic machine called Ames Plantation. The hunters such as myself, see things in a different light when compared to the cattle farmers, the crop farmers, and the Board of Directors who look at the overall bottom line (<em>crop damage, crop yield, tree harvest, pine stands, etc</em>).</p><p></p><p>Correct. With a deer density of roughly 20 deer per square mile, coupled with very high human intrusion and hunting pressure August through January, as well as the best bedding areas (<em>20-80 acre clear cuts that a rabbit could not navigate</em>) east of the MS River, it makes for some tough days afield, especially if your enjoyment comes purely from deer sightings. The significance of the rut and good weather are really exemplified at Ames, as that is BY FAR, the best time to be in the woods. The deer sightings and mature buck kill align with those two every year, no doubt about it.</p><p></p><p>Since 2004. We have averaged roughly 180 does a year, with 2-3 years north of 200, and the peak coming at 235 or thereabouts, around 2006-2008 time frame.</p><p></p><p>No increase in age structure. Since does are randomly sampled/killed from the herd, the distribution of ages killed last year mimics the earlier years, when looking at a percentage of the overall doe kill annually. I would have to go back and look at the doe weight data, but I do not recall anything jumping out at me about increased "dressed" doe weights, or increased "dressed" buck weights.</p><p></p><p>Not to my knowledge, the graphs seem pretty consistent other than the top end buck weights. Early on (2005-2010) we killed "some" mature bucks that dressed 185-205 pounds, but it "seems" the majority of dressed weights recently are 145-175, with a select few dressing north of 180.</p><p></p><p>Not enough to be considered significant.</p><p></p><p>I do not know that answer for certain, but I suspect the majority of fawns drop today around same time they did 10 years ago when we were 5 years into the intensive QDM program.</p><p></p><p>Buck age structure for "harvested" bucks can be seen below. The "1.5" column is collateral damage from the intensive doe harvest where stubby spikes, one horned spikes, etc are shot for a doe. Years 2002-2003 were just every day deer hunting where all deer/bucks/does were legal. In essence, those two years were the years Ames collected data to use as the baseline for the QDM club when setting goals, expectations, regulations, fines, minimum gross score, etc.</p><p></p><p></p><p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/zQj4uvl.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Andy S., post: 4656900, member: 131"] There is enough crops, food, browse, and cover at Ames to support 50-60 deer per square mile, EASILY. But, that will never happen because Ames Plantation is not managed for deer. The deer club is just one part of a bigger economic machine called Ames Plantation. The hunters such as myself, see things in a different light when compared to the cattle farmers, the crop farmers, and the Board of Directors who look at the overall bottom line ([i]crop damage, crop yield, tree harvest, pine stands, etc[/i]). Correct. With a deer density of roughly 20 deer per square mile, coupled with very high human intrusion and hunting pressure August through January, as well as the best bedding areas ([i]20-80 acre clear cuts that a rabbit could not navigate[/i]) east of the MS River, it makes for some tough days afield, especially if your enjoyment comes purely from deer sightings. The significance of the rut and good weather are really exemplified at Ames, as that is BY FAR, the best time to be in the woods. The deer sightings and mature buck kill align with those two every year, no doubt about it. Since 2004. We have averaged roughly 180 does a year, with 2-3 years north of 200, and the peak coming at 235 or thereabouts, around 2006-2008 time frame. No increase in age structure. Since does are randomly sampled/killed from the herd, the distribution of ages killed last year mimics the earlier years, when looking at a percentage of the overall doe kill annually. I would have to go back and look at the doe weight data, but I do not recall anything jumping out at me about increased "dressed" doe weights, or increased "dressed" buck weights. Not to my knowledge, the graphs seem pretty consistent other than the top end buck weights. Early on (2005-2010) we killed "some" mature bucks that dressed 185-205 pounds, but it "seems" the majority of dressed weights recently are 145-175, with a select few dressing north of 180. Not enough to be considered significant. I do not know that answer for certain, but I suspect the majority of fawns drop today around same time they did 10 years ago when we were 5 years into the intensive QDM program. Buck age structure for "harvested" bucks can be seen below. The "1.5" column is collateral damage from the intensive doe harvest where stubby spikes, one horned spikes, etc are shot for a doe. Years 2002-2003 were just every day deer hunting where all deer/bucks/does were legal. In essence, those two years were the years Ames collected data to use as the baseline for the QDM club when setting goals, expectations, regulations, fines, minimum gross score, etc. [img]https://i.imgur.com/zQj4uvl.jpg[/img] [/QUOTE]
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