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Tennessee Hunting Forums
Quality Deer Management
Managing Expectations
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<blockquote data-quote="HOOK" data-source="post: 753613" data-attributes="member: 87"><p>There is a vast difference in what a hunter expects and what a hunter gets. You can weigh all the options, deer density + size of acerage + topograhpy + available natural forage + agricultural forage & plots, + the time needed in the field. Yet the fact remains that not every place grows trophy whitetails. Most hunt under the expectation that they will kill a monster because the commercial market sets the example of what we "WANT" to expect, which is what keeps most of us going into the woods on a regualar basis. However, those expectations rarely meet reality unless you are one of those frotunate enough to have all of the right components. Here is an example. I only have 175 acres. Every time I hunt it I would love to take a huge trophy but the fact remains that if I am honest with myself this is what I can realistcally expect. </p><p></p><p>#1- Does. I'm loaded with them and do my share of cleaning every season. My expectations are typically met every season. In reality I could take nothing but does in an entire season and be very happy with that. That is my reality.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/November0407-22-copy.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>#2- Bucks Sample A. 1.5 year olds. See them all the time. I don't shoot them. This is average for my land.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/11.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>#3- Bucks Sample B. Realistic expectations for my particular area the below is the TYPICAL size I would expect to see on my place. Althought the ratio is not as hight as 1.5 year olds, this is the typical 2.5 year old that I can realistically expect to see on several occasions during a season and happens to be the size limit I have set for myself. Because of my practice I can realisticaly expect to take at least one of these per season although I have numerous occasions to take more I usually don't.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/November0407-322.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>#4- Bucks Sample C. 3.5 year olds are there and I typically have several sightings in a season. The way my luck goes they are just out of bow range most of the time. But, when I see them this is what grows in my area. So I can't realistcally expect to see a 3.5 Illinois buck sporting a 150 class rack because that just isn't going to happen in my neck of the woods.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/1124o5am.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>#5- Bucks Sample D. 4.5 year olds are there but sightings are rare. I know if I come into contact with one that it will not equate to a Kansas or Ohio 4.5 170 class buck, but I will gladly take this any day. This is what I epxect out of a 4.5.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/1119062.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>#6- Bucks Sample E. 5.5 year olds. Are they there. Yes. Are they typical? No! Why? Any number of reasons: They don't survive the season, They are more noctural, I don't spend enought time in the woods to see them more often. Although I know my place will produce them my realistic expectations of seeing one is low, say 3%. When I see one it will not be that 300 pound Canadian 200 class whitetail it will be one of these.</p><p><img src="http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/Kill_Shot1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Thus far my ratios seem well balanced. There is good forage for extremely healthy deer. I manage what I have, but in all reality this is all I expect my little piece of heaven to produce. I do not expect more, and could not ask for more. </p><p></p><p>In short....ALL of the components have to be there. You take one of the equasions out and your expectations will drematically become less realistic. THEN....On top of all that you have to add the talent of knowing how to harvest what you have. This is where Luck and Talent combine to give you your end result.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HOOK, post: 753613, member: 87"] There is a vast difference in what a hunter expects and what a hunter gets. You can weigh all the options, deer density + size of acerage + topograhpy + available natural forage + agricultural forage & plots, + the time needed in the field. Yet the fact remains that not every place grows trophy whitetails. Most hunt under the expectation that they will kill a monster because the commercial market sets the example of what we "WANT" to expect, which is what keeps most of us going into the woods on a regualar basis. However, those expectations rarely meet reality unless you are one of those frotunate enough to have all of the right components. Here is an example. I only have 175 acres. Every time I hunt it I would love to take a huge trophy but the fact remains that if I am honest with myself this is what I can realistcally expect. #1- Does. I'm loaded with them and do my share of cleaning every season. My expectations are typically met every season. In reality I could take nothing but does in an entire season and be very happy with that. That is my reality. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/November0407-22-copy.jpg[/img] #2- Bucks Sample A. 1.5 year olds. See them all the time. I don't shoot them. This is average for my land. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/11.jpg[/img] #3- Bucks Sample B. Realistic expectations for my particular area the below is the TYPICAL size I would expect to see on my place. Althought the ratio is not as hight as 1.5 year olds, this is the typical 2.5 year old that I can realistically expect to see on several occasions during a season and happens to be the size limit I have set for myself. Because of my practice I can realisticaly expect to take at least one of these per season although I have numerous occasions to take more I usually don't. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/November0407-322.jpg[/img] #4- Bucks Sample C. 3.5 year olds are there and I typically have several sightings in a season. The way my luck goes they are just out of bow range most of the time. But, when I see them this is what grows in my area. So I can't realistcally expect to see a 3.5 Illinois buck sporting a 150 class rack because that just isn't going to happen in my neck of the woods. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/1124o5am.jpg[/img] #5- Bucks Sample D. 4.5 year olds are there but sightings are rare. I know if I come into contact with one that it will not equate to a Kansas or Ohio 4.5 170 class buck, but I will gladly take this any day. This is what I epxect out of a 4.5. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/1119062.jpg[/img] #6- Bucks Sample E. 5.5 year olds. Are they there. Yes. Are they typical? No! Why? Any number of reasons: They don't survive the season, They are more noctural, I don't spend enought time in the woods to see them more often. Although I know my place will produce them my realistic expectations of seeing one is low, say 3%. When I see one it will not be that 300 pound Canadian 200 class whitetail it will be one of these. [img]http://usera.imagecave.com/Thooker/Kill_Shot1.jpg[/img] Thus far my ratios seem well balanced. There is good forage for extremely healthy deer. I manage what I have, but in all reality this is all I expect my little piece of heaven to produce. I do not expect more, and could not ask for more. In short....ALL of the components have to be there. You take one of the equasions out and your expectations will drematically become less realistic. THEN....On top of all that you have to add the talent of knowing how to harvest what you have. This is where Luck and Talent combine to give you your end result. [/QUOTE]
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