I try to shoot them when good rutting action is not taking place, if possible.
This is interesting. Are you referring to private land mainly? Where a huge influx of hunting pressure would completely freak out the deer? Also are you saying this occurs with the whole deer population in that area or just mature bucks? I hunt only public for now and I never know who killed what the day before maybe right where I'm hunting.When to shoot them isn't nearly as important as WHERE you shoot them.
Never shoot does on your best buck hunting spots if you plan on hunting that property in years to come. Even shooting one at the end of the season after buck hunting is over will educate the remaining deer and they will learn to avoid that area in future years.
I no longer shoot does for population control. For personal use, I like around 50lbs of pure deboned meat per year. I'd prefer to get that meat from a single 200lb buck, but if I'm not seeing a buck I want to kill, I will shoot a couple does instead on areas where I do not hunt for bucks.
Yes, on private land where you can somewhat control what you are hunting. On public, there are a few honeyholes that have no pressure, but in general it's impossible to control what other hunters doThis is interesting. Are you referring to private land mainly? Where a huge influx of hunting pressure would completely freak out the deer? Also are you saying this occurs with the whole deer population in that area or just mature bucks? I hunt only public for now and I never know who killed what the day before maybe right where I'm hunting.
Want to shut down daylight activity in a food plot right quick? Kill a doe out of it. I don't know why killing a deer out of a plot has so much influence, but it has far more influence than just hunting a plot.When to shoot them isn't nearly as important as WHERE you shoot them.
Never shoot does on your best buck hunting spots if you plan on hunting that property in years to come. Even shooting one at the end of the season after buck hunting is over will educate the remaining deer and they will learn to avoid that area in future years.
I no longer shoot does for population control. For personal use, I like around 50lbs of pure deboned meat per year. I'd prefer to get that meat from a single 200lb buck, but if I'm not seeing a buck I want to kill, I will shoot a couple does instead on areas where I do not hunt for bucks.
Im sure there is truth in what you just stated, but in relatively unpressured deer herds i dont think it matters much. These 2 pictures were taken in the same field leas than 2 hours apart.Want to shut down daylight activity in a food plot right quick? Kill a doe out of it. I don't know why killing a deer out of a plot has so much influence, but it has far more influence than just hunting a plot.
I think that proves BSKs point. The buck was at night.Im sure there is truth in what you just stated, but in relatively unpressured deer herds i dont think it matters much. These 2 pictures were taken in the same field leas than 2 hours apart.
One's a daytime picture, the other a night-time picture. Notice I said "daylight" deer activity.Im sure there is truth in what you just stated, but in relatively unpressured deer herds i dont think it matters much. These 2 pictures were taken in the same field leas than 2 hours apart.
ALL older deer are smart. I run trail-camera from August 1 through mid-January. I wouldn't need to know the opening date of deer season. I can just look at the percentage of daylight pictures and tell when hunters hit the woods. There will be a sudden and dramatic decline in daylight pictures within 48 hours of hunters hitting the woods in numbers.And don't think does won't figure it out either. We start banging away at does on day 1…those old nannies are smart.