BigGameGuy
Well-Known Member
Quality Whitetails may have just published the best article I have ever seen regarding deer management. It is in the June issue and is titled, "Managing Bucks Means Managing Expectations." I must admit, BSK has been proclaiming the concepts in this article for many years now. Hopefully this article will lead to wider acceptance among deer managers. Anyhow it reminded me of a thread about a month ago from Ridgerunner. Here is a copy of his original question:
According the the Quality Whitetails article, in average habitat, with an advanced age-structure, a 3,000 acre property has the potential to produce approximately TWO bucks every year that exceed 140 inches (10 in the 120+ category). In Ridgerunner's situation, since he has 680 acres, simply divide these estimates by four. He should be able to consistently produce 2-3 bucks in the 120+ category, and may produce one 140+ inch buck every other year. Trust me, I'm not trying to deflate anyone's hopes, I'm simply trying to avoid potential let down if someone puts in years of money and effort into trying to produce trophy-class bucks. It also emphasizes the necessity of cooperatives with adjoining londowners.
Anyhow, kudos to Quality White-tails...job well done.
RidgeRunner said:Our lease has 680 acres which is just a little over 1 sq. mile. The Deer density map shows our area to have at best 30 deer per sq. mile. We have 6 members and if each of us take 3 deer per year, that would be more than half the population. I know the fawn birth adds to the equation,but it just don't seem to add up.
Seems to me (statistically) the place would eventually be hunted out.
Now lets look at the mature buck factor, if the herd is balanced we would have at best around 15 Bucks. Out of that number I would think, only 2 or 3 shooters.Our goal is to eventually have enough older aged Bucks to give every member a chance to harvest a wall hanger.Unless I'm over looking some things,our goals for the lease are not obtainable. All this hard work, time, and money just don't seem to equal the projected reward.If I'm looking at this wrong or missing some things please explain it to me.I'm new to this management thing but I am trying to learn.We've had the property for 8 months and now with the bull dozer work done we have about 15 acres of food plots and roads limed and planted. Sorry for the rambling... maybe I'm just thinking and worrying to much.
According the the Quality Whitetails article, in average habitat, with an advanced age-structure, a 3,000 acre property has the potential to produce approximately TWO bucks every year that exceed 140 inches (10 in the 120+ category). In Ridgerunner's situation, since he has 680 acres, simply divide these estimates by four. He should be able to consistently produce 2-3 bucks in the 120+ category, and may produce one 140+ inch buck every other year. Trust me, I'm not trying to deflate anyone's hopes, I'm simply trying to avoid potential let down if someone puts in years of money and effort into trying to produce trophy-class bucks. It also emphasizes the necessity of cooperatives with adjoining londowners.
Anyhow, kudos to Quality White-tails...job well done.