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Tennessee Hunting Forums
Quality Deer Management
Natural Non- Hrvest mortality rates?
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<blockquote data-quote="BSK" data-source="post: 3636941" data-attributes="member: 17"><p>BHC,</p><p></p><p>Just remember that with a POST-hunt census, if you increase the kill of 3 1/2+ bucks during the season, you will see a decrease in the number of surviving 3 1/2+ year-old bucks after the season is over. This isn't necessarily the sign of over-harvest. It's just a numbers game: kill more and you will have less after the season, but that isn't the definition of over-harvest.</p><p></p><p>Because you are limiting the harvest to bucks 3 1/2 and older, what I would be concerned with is the percent of the huntable buck population that is 4 1/2+. And the huntable buck population would be those surviving bucks post-hunt plus the ones you killed (the bucks on the property during hunting season). If you are killing too many 3 1/2 year-olds, that will show up in a declining percentage of the huntable bucks that are 4 1/2+ the following year.</p><p></p><p>I would also watch closely at the trend in total huntable bucks. You don't want to see your buck population declining too much. If it is declining over time, the trend in antlerless population may give you some idea why. If the antlerless population is NOT declining in unison with the declining buck population, excessive hunting pressure is probably to blame for the declining buck population (hunting pressure driving bucks away from the property). If the antlerless population is declining, then the declining buck population is linked to the overall population decline. That may be warranted (pushing the population down below the carrying capacity of the land) or it may be a problem (less deer not desired) depending on food resources.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BSK, post: 3636941, member: 17"] BHC, Just remember that with a POST-hunt census, if you increase the kill of 3 1/2+ bucks during the season, you will see a decrease in the number of surviving 3 1/2+ year-old bucks after the season is over. This isn't necessarily the sign of over-harvest. It's just a numbers game: kill more and you will have less after the season, but that isn't the definition of over-harvest. Because you are limiting the harvest to bucks 3 1/2 and older, what I would be concerned with is the percent of the huntable buck population that is 4 1/2+. And the huntable buck population would be those surviving bucks post-hunt plus the ones you killed (the bucks on the property during hunting season). If you are killing too many 3 1/2 year-olds, that will show up in a declining percentage of the huntable bucks that are 4 1/2+ the following year. I would also watch closely at the trend in total huntable bucks. You don't want to see your buck population declining too much. If it is declining over time, the trend in antlerless population may give you some idea why. If the antlerless population is NOT declining in unison with the declining buck population, excessive hunting pressure is probably to blame for the declining buck population (hunting pressure driving bucks away from the property). If the antlerless population is declining, then the declining buck population is linked to the overall population decline. That may be warranted (pushing the population down below the carrying capacity of the land) or it may be a problem (less deer not desired) depending on food resources. [/QUOTE]
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Quality Deer Management
Natural Non- Hrvest mortality rates?
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