Summer vs fall range

[Shed Hunter]

What percentage of unique bucks from your summer censusing did you guys photograph at some point during the hunting season? I'm wanting to see what percentage of bucks you have that eliminate their summer range when fall rolls around. I ask this because all too often I see someone post a nice summer buck, and the comments are littered with negative remarks saying "too bad he will be gone in the fall because deer shift ranges." I personally feel VERY few will eliminate their summer range entirely, but I would like to see some data on the subject.

1/5 of my bucks from summer photo censusing did not show back up at some time this year.

Keep in mind a lot of deer will be killed before getting a chance to show back up.


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[BSK]

GREAT question Master Chief! I look forward to hearing everyone's answers. I've found that percentage to be highly variable, based on habitat and property size. I observed the least seasonal shifting of buck ranges in areas with large expanses of the same habitat, such endless hardwood forests, as well as widespread agriculture. I'm assuming these areas experience low seasonal shifting because the resources are about the same everywhere. Why shift range seasonally if food and cover are equal everywhere? I've observed the most seasonal shifting of bucks when large chunks of good and poor habitat--or more importantly large chunks of habitat with seasonally different habitat quality--are directly adjacent, such as a big chunk of hardwoods abuts a large chunk of agriculture. This situation I most common in hill country, where the hilly terrain is primary woods, while agriculture occurs in the meandering river bottoms which snake through the hills.

In addition, property size can make a huge difference. It is much easier for a minor shift in seasonal range to take a buck completely off a 40-acre property, but much less likely to take a buck completely off a 600-acre property.

I have consistency in camera census technique on my place since 2003, and the percentage you asked for has varied from 40% to 100% in individual years, but the average over the last 12 years is 85%.

 

[BSK]

To me, the more interesting number is, what percent of the bucks photographed during season were summer residents? That number can be extraordinarily variable from property to property. Some see little movement onto their property post-summer. Some will see a HUGE influx.

 

[Shed Hunter]

GREAT question Master Chief! I look forward to hearing everyone's answers. I've found that percentage to be highly variable, based on habitat and property size. I observed the least seasonal shifting of buck ranges in areas with large expanses of the same habitat, such endless hardwood forests, as well as widespread agriculture. I'm assuming these areas experience low seasonal shifting because the resources are about the same everywhere. Why shift range seasonally if food and cover are equal everywhere? I've observed the most seasonal shifting of bucks when large chunks of good and poor habitat--or more importantly large chunks of habitat with seasonally different habitat quality--are directly adjacent, such as a big chunk of hardwoods abuts a large chunk of agriculture. This situation I most common in hill country, where the hilly terrain is primary woods, while agriculture occurs in the meandering river bottoms which snake through the hills.

In addition, property size can make a huge difference. It is much easier for a minor shift in seasonal range to take a buck completely off a 40-acre property, but much less likely to take a buck completely off a 600-acre property.

I have consistency in camera census technique on my place since 2003, and the percentage you asked for has varied from 40% to 100% in individual years, but the average over the last 12 years is 85%.

Thanks for a great response. Do you have data for the percentage of mature bucks (let's define that as 4.5+) specifically? I have always heard/read that a mature buck generally sticks to a smaller range, but have little data to work with on that one.


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[Shed Hunter]

To me, the more interesting number is, what percent of the bucks photographed during season were summer residents? That number can be extraordinarily variable from property to property. Some see little movement onto their property post-summer. Some will see a HUGE influx.

Good point. For my area that I tediously monitored this year that percentage would be 50%

There were 17 total bucks use the property from the summer up until now (over a 350 acre area)

5 1.5-Only 1 new yearling showed up during the season (that actually surprises me) All summer yearlings showed up at some point in the season

6 2.5-three new 2.5 bucks showed up during the season. 2/3 2.5s from the summer were fall residents

2 3.5-both were summer and fall residents

2 4.5-one was both a summer and fall resident while one was only a fall resident

1 5.5-not a summer resident

1 6.5-summer resident but did not show up after summer (this deer is a very unusual deer.. I take little from when he is not on camera)


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[BSK]

Do you have data for the percentage of mature bucks (let's define that as 4.5+) specifically? I have always heard/read that a mature buck generally sticks to a smaller range, but have little data to work with on that one.

Very high retention for 4 1/2+ summer bucks. For my place, 91%. For my clients, a bit higher than that (closer to 94%).

 

[BSK]

To me, the more interesting number is, what percent of the bucks photographed during season were summer residents? That number can be extraordinarily variable from property to property. Some see little movement onto their property post-summer. Some will see a HUGE influx.

Good point. For my area that I tediously monitored this year that percentage would be 50%

I generally expect to see at least a doubling of inventoried bucks on a property from summer to full-season, primarily due to bucks' range expansions around the rut.

 

[bowhunter163]

We have almost a 90% retention rate for 3.5 or older bucks . Keep in mind this isn't a severely managed property but the hunters have started some trigger control .

Bsk I have noticed the last few years a trend in our bucks dispersal . The last 5 years I have noticed a trend of less 1.5 yr old bucks dispersing in the fall and more 2.5 yr olds dispersing . Do you know what that could be attributed to ? We kept a large amount of 1 1/2 yr olds This year and lost a lot of 2 1/2 yr olds . Although we did pick up quite a few new 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr olds during the fall .

 

[BSK]

We have almost a 90% retention rate for 3.5 or older bucks . Keep in mind this isn't a severely managed property but the hunters have started some trigger control .

Bsk I have noticed the last few years a trend in our bucks dispersal . The last 5 years I have noticed a trend of less 1.5 yr old bucks dispersing in the fall and more 2.5 yr olds dispersing . Do you know what that could be attributed to ? We kept a large amount of 1 1/2 yr olds This year and lost a lot of 2 1/2 yr olds . Although we did pick up quite a few new 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr olds during the fall .

I'm seeing more and more of that bowhunter163. But in a strange way, it's actually a (partially) good sign. This appears to occur once the buck age structure becomes advanced (more mature bucks present). It's impossible to get inside bucks' heads and understand why they do what they do, but I suspect this increased dispersal of 2 1/2 year-old bucks has something to do with male social dynamics.

 

[TN hunter]

We seemed to have a higher retention rate for our 2.5 yo bucks and about a 75 % retention rate for our 3.5 yo. 4.5 yo was 50 %and the one 4.5 yo that we were getting several pics of was killed on an adjacent property. However, this was based on a 200 acre property that does not get severely pressured. Yet, the properties surrounding us are hunted hard.


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[BSK]

We seemed to have a higher retention rate for our 2.5 yo bucks and about a 75 % retention rate for our 3.5 yo. 4.5 yo was 50 %and the one 4.5 yo that we were getting several pics of was killed on an adjacent property. However, this was based on a 200 acre property that does not get severely pressured. Yet, the properties surrounding us are hunted hard.

TN Hunter,

Generally, when I see low retention rates from summer to fall, it is because the neighboring properties have something critical the monitored property does not, and that is usually involving sanctuary or cover habitat. Food is usually not the issue, as deer will travel considerable distances at night to access a preferred food source.

 

[TN hunter]

We seemed to have a higher retention rate for our 2.5 yo bucks and about a 75 % retention rate for our 3.5 yo. 4.5 yo was 50 %and the one 4.5 yo that we were getting several pics of was killed on an adjacent property. However, this was based on a 200 acre property that does not get severely pressured. Yet, the properties surrounding us are hunted hard.

TN Hunter,

Generally, when I see low retention rates from summer to fall, it is because the neighboring properties have something critical the monitored property does not, and that is usually involving sanctuary or cover habitat. Food is usually not the issue, as deer will travel considerable distances at night to access a preferred food source.

BSK,
One of the neighboring properties was select cut last summer and has alot of cover, the other adjoining properties are hardwood timber and 6 year clearcut. So, there is plenty of cover for them. We have a very large thicket on the front side of our property which is essentially a sanctuary with food plots bordering it.

 

[BSK]

Thick cover through select timbering, or better yet, 5-8 year-old clear-cuts, is extremely attractive to older, hunter-wary bucks. They will put up with more hunting pressure surrounding them IF they have access to nearly impenetrable cover.