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BSK: Reasonable expectations
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<blockquote data-quote="BSK" data-source="post: 3927795" data-attributes="member: 17"><p>The numeric side:</p><p></p><p>The numeric side of realistic expectations includes the abilities of the hunters (what age bucks can they consistently kill) and what age bucks can be grown on and attracted to the property (and often it's FAR more about what can be attracted to a property). What age bucks can be grown/attracted is strongly influenced by the hunting pressure in the surrounding area. What antler sizes each age-class of buck will grow is most influenced by the habitat and soil quality of the area (the property in question and all of the land within a 2-3 mile radius area). How far is the land-owner willing or can afford to alter the current habitat?</p><p></p><p>Some of this information can be gathered from satellite images. Just look at the property in question as well as the surrounding area. What percent is forest versus open? The higher the percent of open land the more impact hunters can have on the local buck population. And for habitat quality, what is the "open" land? Fescue pasture? Fallow fields in brush/briers? Agriculture? Is the terrain flat, rolling, ridge-and-hollow? The more "severe" the terrain, the shorter the visibility and the less impact hunters have on buck populations. Although some general idea of harvest pressure can be gained from looking at county harvest numbers over time, most of what can be learned about local hunting pressure has to come from the hunters themselves. How much shooting do they hear on the opening weekends of MZ and gun season? Does hunting pressure tail off outside of the opening weeks of firearms seasons, or are there a lot of deer hunters right through the season? When is the local peak of the rut? A peak rut near opening weeks of firearms seasons tends to take a greater toll on bucks.</p><p></p><p>Lastly, once realistic age structures can be determined, what is the average antler size for bucks of each age-class for that area? Some of this can be determined from TWRA harvest data for that county. Adjustments to those numbers can be made by assessing localized habitat quality. Thankfully, most hunters now run trail-cameras, and assessment of their past pictures is a HUGE help, especially in areas I'm not familiar with. I've got a plethora of data for the areas I work most frequently (western Highland Rim), but if I'm working areas where I do not have a lot of data (especially those areas just to the east of Nashville, and some parts of the Cumberland Plateau), a land-owner's trail-camera data can be especially useful.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BSK, post: 3927795, member: 17"] The numeric side: The numeric side of realistic expectations includes the abilities of the hunters (what age bucks can they consistently kill) and what age bucks can be grown on and attracted to the property (and often it's FAR more about what can be attracted to a property). What age bucks can be grown/attracted is strongly influenced by the hunting pressure in the surrounding area. What antler sizes each age-class of buck will grow is most influenced by the habitat and soil quality of the area (the property in question and all of the land within a 2-3 mile radius area). How far is the land-owner willing or can afford to alter the current habitat? Some of this information can be gathered from satellite images. Just look at the property in question as well as the surrounding area. What percent is forest versus open? The higher the percent of open land the more impact hunters can have on the local buck population. And for habitat quality, what is the "open" land? Fescue pasture? Fallow fields in brush/briers? Agriculture? Is the terrain flat, rolling, ridge-and-hollow? The more "severe" the terrain, the shorter the visibility and the less impact hunters have on buck populations. Although some general idea of harvest pressure can be gained from looking at county harvest numbers over time, most of what can be learned about local hunting pressure has to come from the hunters themselves. How much shooting do they hear on the opening weekends of MZ and gun season? Does hunting pressure tail off outside of the opening weeks of firearms seasons, or are there a lot of deer hunters right through the season? When is the local peak of the rut? A peak rut near opening weeks of firearms seasons tends to take a greater toll on bucks. Lastly, once realistic age structures can be determined, what is the average antler size for bucks of each age-class for that area? Some of this can be determined from TWRA harvest data for that county. Adjustments to those numbers can be made by assessing localized habitat quality. Thankfully, most hunters now run trail-cameras, and assessment of their past pictures is a HUGE help, especially in areas I'm not familiar with. I've got a plethora of data for the areas I work most frequently (western Highland Rim), but if I'm working areas where I do not have a lot of data (especially those areas just to the east of Nashville, and some parts of the Cumberland Plateau), a land-owner's trail-camera data can be especially useful. [/QUOTE]
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