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11/05/2002
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Article/Press
Release
Year Round Deer
Management
November:
Primary Breeding Phase, Post Primary Breeding Phase and Rest Phase
By T.R. Michels
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.
T.R. Michels is a
nationally recognized big game researcher, and outdoor writer and
speaker. He is the author of the Whitetail, Elk, Turkey and Goose
Addict's Manuals, and the Deer Addict's Manuals. He is the
innovator of the Moon Indicator, which predicts peak monthly
movement of deer and elk, based on the forces of the moon. T.R.'s
latest products are the 2002 Revised Edition of the Whitetail
Addict's Manual, the 2002 Revised Edition of the Elk Addict's
Manual; and Whitetail Notes and Activity Factors. For a catalog of
books and other hunting aids contact: T.R. Michels, Trinity
Mountain Outdoors, PO Box 284, Wanamingo, MN 55983. Phone:
507-824-3296. E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com Website:
www.trmichels.com |
