 By
early November scraping by whitetail bucks may have already peaked. From
early to late November the majority of the does should be in estrus, and
the bucks should be cruising, chasing and breeding does, which causes scraping
and rubbing to tail off. But, the bucks may still be scraping and checking
scrapes near nighttime food sources, and in travel corridors.
 Scout
to locate buck rub routes and feeding areas, backtrack rub routes to locate
buck core areas and bedding sites. By mid to late November many of the
older does have been bred, and some of the older bucks may return to their
core areas to rest, where you can hunt them during the day. Some older
does may still be in estrus and some doe fawns may come into estrus. Some
of the older bucks may continue scraping and some of the younger bucks
may start scraping as they look for does. Hunt all day.
Population Objectives, Balancing Social
Structure and Carrying Capacity
When we are talking about ideal social conditions in deer management
the buck to doe ratio should be close to one buck to one doe (1:1). However,
in areas where this type of management has not been practiced the buck
to doe ratio may be as low as one buck to three does (1:3). Keeping the
buck to doe ratio in balance helps increase the number of older bucks.
It can also improve the social ranking, health and reproductive rate of
the herd.
A herd of 100 deer with a makeup of 50 percent bucks and does will
not increase by 100 percent per year, because some of the does will be
too young to breed and some too old to conceive. Even if each doe produces
twins the natural mortality rate would keep the increase below 100 animals.
If you are trying to increase the number of older bucks in the area
you must remember that the habitat can only carry so many deer, it makes
no difference if they are bucks or does. The herd must also be kept in
balance with the carrying capacity of the habitat, in order to keep both
the habitat and the animals healthy.
Let's assume that there are 100 animals with a 50:50 male to female
ratio, and the total property area has a carrying capacity of 150 animals.
If every doe produces twins, and 3/4 of the young survive, the herd is
now above carrying capacity of the land with 175 animals. Up to 25 animals
should be removed through natural mortality, predation or hunting to prevent
habitat destruction and starvation. If half the young are bucks and half
does, and no natural mortality or predation occurs, the buck to doe ratio
must be kept in balance by removing 12 males and 12 females the next year.
This will keep the herd at carrying capacity. But, the herd should be kept
below carrying capacity. By keeping the herd below capacity you insure
that if a severe winter, drought or habitat destruction occurs the animals
may still survive.
In many cases hunters only remove the males from the herd, which can
be disastrous. If 25 males are removed from the herd there will be 37 males
and 62 females, leaving 99 animals. Some of the bucks shot will be 1 1/2
to 3 1/2 years old, and they will never have a chance to become dominant
breeding bucks. But, the real problem is that there are now 62 does that
can conceivably produce 124 young, with a 75 percent survival rate, increasing
the herd by 93 the next year for a total of 192 deer, with 83 bucks and
109 does.
Because the herd is above carrying capacity habitat destruction is
likely to occur. If the hunters again remove only males, by taking 42 bucks,
there are still 109 does instead of the original 50. If the practice of
taking only bucks continues there will not be enough mature males left
to ensure that all the does will be bred during the peak of the rut; some
late born fawns will starve or die of exposure, and the population may
crash. Even if the population doesn't suffer the number of older bucks
will decline.
In order to produce more older bucks some of the does must be taken
each year. If the habitat is at carrying capacity and the is herd balanced,
as many females as males must be taken each year in order to keep the herd
in balance with the carrying capacity of the habitat. If the herd is kept
below carrying capacity there may be enough forage even if the harvest
quotas are not met; production is higher than normal; or forage production
is reduced by unforeseen circumstances.
The best strategy for responsible deer management is to keep the herd
below carrying capacity, and the male to female ratio as balanced as possible.
| To
List Of T.R. Michels Articles:
T.R. Michels
T.R. Michels is a nationally
recognized big game researcher, speaker and writer. He is the author of
the Whitetail, Elk, Turkey and Goose Addict's Manuals; and the Deer Addict's
Manuals. He is also the innovator of the Moon Indicator, which predicts
peak monthly movement of deer and elk, based on the forces of the moon;
the Daily Deer Movement Indicator, which helps hunters decide when and
where to hunt, based on current meteorological conditions; and the Rut
Phase Indicator, which helps hunters determine the stage of the rut, and
when and where to hunt, by the current deer activity and sign. T.R.'s latest
books, available for 2001, are the Deer Addict's Manual, Volume 7: Hunting
Tactic; the Scrape Addicts Manual; and the Outdoorsman's Cookbook, Volume
1 and 2.
Contact:
T.R. Michels
Trinity Mountain Outdoors
PO Box 284
Wanamingo, MN 55983
507-824-3296
E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com
Web: www.TRMichels.com |
|
| To
List Of T.R. Michels Articles:
T.R. Michels
T.R. Michels is a nationally
recognized big game researcher, speaker and writer. He is the author of
the series Whitetail, Elk, Turkey and Goose & Deer Addict's Manuals
and the innovator of the Moon Indicator.
T.R.'s latest books, available
for 2001, are the Deer Addict's Manual, Volume 7: Hunting Tactic; the Scrape
Addicts Manual; and the Outdoorsman's Cookbook, Volume 1 and 2.
Contact:
T.R. Michels
Trinity Mountain Outdoors
PO Box 284
Wanamingo, MN 55983
507-824-3296
Web: www.TRMichels.com
E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com |
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