huntinghard - 06 January 2015 11:23 AM
The last point I do not see discussed on here is that I have felt in order to help population in some areas it would be more of a benefit to the herd to shoot a small buck than does, has anyone practiced this? I know in some areas you might get a bloody nose, but I think it could be the best approach.
Bucks and does are supposedly born at a 1:1 ratio. But bucks have a higher natural mortality rate. So shooting a small buck for meat, rather than a doe, is an unwise practice.
It is one of the ways that Pike Co. has crumbled. They had more than enough deer in the past, regardless of what they see there now. But outfitters were tying up large chunks of the county, bringing in hunters that weren’t there to shoot a doe, and not letting anyone in to shoot does to keep a balanced herd. Thus, neighbors complained of the quality of bucks going down and having too many deer. Depredation permits are issued. And it just turns into one big mess.
Don’t shoot a small buck for meat if you want the herd to grow. If you want to grow your numbers….don’t shoot any deer.