megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Just got back from TN running trail cameras that have been out for 5 weeks, checking stands, and setting up a new shooting house. I went through around 15,000 pictures on 4 baited census sites on various farms...
From my best assessment, I photographed at least 22 unique does. Only 2 had fawns
Worst recruitment I've ever had so far. And these were long established salt licks that I have used for census in many years past. Looks like the coyotes ate well this early summer. And yet another year I cannot allow adult does to be killed. Something has GOT to turn around. But good grief, I've never seen so many does this fat this time of the year. I guess not nursing fawns combined with near infinite forage from the wet summer has them in unreal condition.
I've been running a 5 year average of around 25% recruitment, so the overall population has been stable since we've not killed any does (except for a handful the kids have taken); but I'm seriously worried about this year on my farms. In fact, 3 out of 4 farms had no fawns photographed whatsoever.
AND, this is the first year we've ever had where we didn't chop up at least 1 fawn cutting hay. Maybe just coincidence, but I suspect the coyotes got to them first.
Buck to doe ratio is around 1:1. 3 Mature bucks photographed out of approx 2 dozen unique bucks. All will be on the cull list however, as the highest scoring buck will be lucky to hit 110". Best buck is a 2.5 or 3.5 mainframe 11 that will score 135"... fingers crossed he survives the 3.5 month gauntlet, as he will be a slammer next year.
From my best assessment, I photographed at least 22 unique does. Only 2 had fawns
Worst recruitment I've ever had so far. And these were long established salt licks that I have used for census in many years past. Looks like the coyotes ate well this early summer. And yet another year I cannot allow adult does to be killed. Something has GOT to turn around. But good grief, I've never seen so many does this fat this time of the year. I guess not nursing fawns combined with near infinite forage from the wet summer has them in unreal condition.I've been running a 5 year average of around 25% recruitment, so the overall population has been stable since we've not killed any does (except for a handful the kids have taken); but I'm seriously worried about this year on my farms. In fact, 3 out of 4 farms had no fawns photographed whatsoever.
AND, this is the first year we've ever had where we didn't chop up at least 1 fawn cutting hay. Maybe just coincidence, but I suspect the coyotes got to them first.
Buck to doe ratio is around 1:1. 3 Mature bucks photographed out of approx 2 dozen unique bucks. All will be on the cull list however, as the highest scoring buck will be lucky to hit 110". Best buck is a 2.5 or 3.5 mainframe 11 that will score 135"... fingers crossed he survives the 3.5 month gauntlet, as he will be a slammer next year.
