survey? ??

[KillenTime]

Just in everybody's own opinion, what would you say the percentage of bucks in Tennessee make it past 2 1/2 years of age?

 

[rem270]

The % of the ones that are 2.5 at the end of hunting season and hadn't got killed


I don't even have a close opinion on that one truthfully. I'd say not near many enough. I'd like to know though.

 

[catman529]

I think I might remember BSK saying one time what ideal percentages of each age class are. Don't remember though. Not sure what percent of TN deer (bucks) make it past 2.5 but I'm sure some areas they rarely ever do and other areas they consistently mature into old bucks. With more suburban type areas holding more older deer.

 

[KillenTime]

Good point Catman, this topic was brought up this weekend and I am curious my self!

 

[Kritter Gitter]

My buddy that hunts the property next to mine in sullivan co. killed a 6pt. yesterday that was quite old. Very white faced and only 2 teeth left. I saw the buck behind my treestand Thanksgiving morning and just thought it was a small buck that needed 1 more year but it turned out it was a buck on the decline. Rare to see an old buck like that!

 

[diamond hunter]

Not many in Macon county. :crazy:

 

[Jcalder]

In my area I've learned that very few do. If you pass on one the next guy takes it.

 

[Planking]

3.5 is rare on the TN properties i hunt. I say very few.

 

[hunter0925]

In my area I've learned that very few do. If you pass on one the next guy takes it.

This may be true at times but every deer that you let walk has a 100% better chance of living through the season at that given time. Had a biologist tell me that one time and it stuck with me.

 

[rem270]

In my area I've learned that very few do. If you pass on one the next guy takes it.

This may be true at times but every deer that you let walk has a 100% better chance of living through the season at that given time. Had a biologist tell me that one time and it stuck with me.

I agree..

 

[KillenTime]

In my area I've learned that very few do. If you pass on one the next guy takes it.

This may be true at times but every deer that you let walk has a 100% better chance of living through the season at that given time. Had a biologist tell me that one time and it stuck with me.

I agree..

Me too!

 

[xtremedeerman]

Agree!

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

No idea, but considering Road kill and depredation permits not as many as we would like to think.

 

[KillenTime]

I understand the purpose of those permits, but makes no sense at the same time! Can they shoot what ever they want anytime? Can spotlights be used? I have no idea that's why I'm asking

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

The area managers issue permits with rules and guidelines. It seems to me it is almost secretive how many are issued and how many are killed. You never know if 1/2 of what you hear is true sometimes. There are a couple of breakfast meat and 3 places around here where I hear about a good # of deer/bucks shot whenever I go. I totally understand a man protecting his crops. What I don't understand is the same man may not allow hunting. Seems to me we should have some type of program like leasing dove fields. The permits should only be issued if other attempts to utilize the resource are not effective. To shoot them and drag em off to the woods to rot is morally and ethically wrong to me.

 

[Mike Belt]

In Ms where I used to hunt they'd intentionally gut shoot them so they'd run out of the fields to die and they didn't have to drag them off.

I understand the damage deer do to ag crops but the problem I have with depredation permits is that they can't utilize the deer. That to me seems such a waste.

 

[BSK]

Just in everybody's own opinion, what would you say the percentage of bucks in Tennessee make it past 2 1/2 years of age?

Every location is its own unique little world. I've seen everything on the spectrum in TN, from few living to most living past 2 1/2. Looking at county harvest data, some counties in TN have exceptional harvested buck age structures, and some counties--often right next door to a great county--have very poor harvested buck age structures.

I do most of my trail-camera census work in the western sections of Middle TN (Hickman, Perry, Humphreys, Dickson, Houston counties), and in those areas, having 20-25% of the antlered buck population being 3 1/2+ is fairly common. Working out the numbers, that would mean around 60% of the 2 1/2 year-old bucks are surviving to be 3 1/2s the following year. However, I'm sure there are areas of TN where only 5-10% of the buck population is 3 1/2+, meaning the majority of 2 1/2 year-old bucks are not surviving.

 

[Winchester]

I agree with BSK, obviously many of them make it through their 2 1/2 yr old season, as we have good #'s of 3.5's in most areas of TN when the season starts each year.

 

[KillenTime]

Thanks for the info guys

 

[bowtechgump]

"There is a 0% chance you will shoot a deer that is 3 1/2 if you are shooting him at 2 1/2".

In my area I've learned that very few do. If you pass on one the next guy takes it.

This may be true at times but every deer that you let walk has a 100% better chance of living through the season at that given time. Had a biologist tell me that one time and it stuck with me.

I agree..