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I think a lot of folks that had your place would probably try and kill 30-40 does. I just don't get it.

My ideal density would be one really fat doe and a 12 pt

Back in the 80s and early 90s there was not a huntable population in North Alabama. Everyone I knew who deer hunted then, went to TN or S Alabama. Exception being Bankhead. I was a diehard squirrel hunter back then and never saw a deer track much less a deer up here. Late 90s and 2000 that has changed. I have killed several deer on TVA property where there used to be none. I don't know how much S Bama has changed during that time frame but N Bama has more deer now than it did 25-30 years ago.

Is this a general question or a december lull question? My first 3 sits this year went doe, doe, 4.5 yr old 8 pt. Now I haven't seen a deer in a week (4-5 sits). They always clam up down here at this time. And also, normally I'd never shoot 3 deer my first 3 sits, but my freezer took a dump this summer and I lost all my meat, and then the 8 came out on my 3rd sit. Whats a guy gonna do? Ha

So of you that have replied to this thread, what do you think your deer density is per square mile at this time ? And what do you want it to be ?

For me, I'd estimate 20/sq mile in Alabama (pretty low), and probably a good bit better in Mississippi, at the places I hunt. I haven't accumulated enough experience here to know.

I can't imagine a density of 50/sq mile wouldn't be sustainable most places. That's less than a deer per 10 acres.

I'm not exactly sure most of land i hunt around house is 4yr old cutover with planted pines, they r very hard to spot and scout i would say there's at least 15-25 in a square mile tho

I'd say that many places around here in the good areas are 50+ with some properties being 75-100 DPSM.....You could probably reduce the numbers on some of those higher properties and add some weight and inches onto the bucks but you're still not gonna be growing a bunch of world class deer.....just a nice 'un here and there about like they do now anyways.

It kills me to hear folks start saying that they're "seeing too many does so they need to shoot some".....They have an abstract number in their head that has nothing to do with actual carrying capacity.....or they base it off of a poorly managed, 1 acre greenfield being eat down to the dirt so they think it means they need to start shooting. I'd wager a guess that many places in the state could hold more deer if folks laid off the does.

That's basically why I started this thread. I think it's just an excuse to kill does. Killing does is great, and I 100% support it. But folks act like you're doing the world a favor.

that sound the arrow makes when it hits them is fun though

I live in an area where the DCNR says there's <15 deer per Sq Mile.
I've often seen that many in my yard, so I'm pretty sure there's a few more in the adjacent 630 acres.

I am more concerned with ratio's than numbers

You don't think you'll see as many bucks with a field full of does?

On the two tracts I own, it’s gotta be 75 deer per square mile or more. I’ve got another place a couple miles away that is timber company lease and I’d guess it’s closer to 40 or 50 deer per square mile on it.

I’m happy with the numbers we’ve got, but I’d be happy with more deer as long as buck:doe ratio stays in check. We shoot a few does for meat every year.

I want as many deer as possible especially does.

Personally, I think the number is just right. After totaling 8 cars in ten years commuting to work, the collisions have subsided over the last 5 or 6 years. (KNOCK ON WOOD)

I'll concur that it can be rough driving in some of these higher density areas at night or just before dawn. It was a blood bath down hwy 29 on that last full moon we had. I hit a baby pig and damn near slammed a doe that just stood in the middle of the road. Somebody ended up coming along and taking out the whole family of pigs a few days later. For some reason they were rootin in the ditch every night. It had to have totaled the car or truck that hit them unless it was a 18 wheeler. I’ve never seen a massacre on the roadway quite like that one.

Buddy of mine was heading to the Everglades a few years ago at night and was running 55 behind a semi that hit a sounder of pigs. Now that was a massacre. The whole front of his truck was covered in pig blood and pieces.