How specifically does having more mature bucks benefit the herd? I get it from a hunting perspective for some people. I'm asking about herd health.

trick question . lol


will a 3 year bred less does than a 6 year old ??? i think that's about what you're asking ?


or


you asking what effect of age structure is there on herd health

I’d say the biggest factor is reducing breeding stress on the younger bucks

Ding ding

but what if you have a lot of younger bucks ?

you two seem to imply fewer older bucks would mean less bucks ?

Then they’ll heavily compete with each other over the first and last does to come into estrous……With older bucks present the only real competition for those does is amongst the older bucks who are better developed to handle to rigors. The younger ones only breed does during the peak of the bell curve when there isnt as much of a need for “competing” with other bucks. Much lower stress levels on them across the board.

Depends on how badly stressed the younger bucks get and how that impacts mortality rates

but with natural mortality rate you gonna have more 3 1/2 than 6 1/2. out side of having trophy bucks where the difference . herd health wise ??

“Older” bucks consists of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9+ year olds…..not just 6 year olds……

yes im aware of that . also aware a spike can breed a doe too . you'll have more 1 1/2 than 3 1/2

i agree my argument is stupid and meaningless but the OP question just made me think uhmmmm .

The main reason you dont have older bucks is because you dont have a lot of younger bucks growing into older age classes. Younger bucks become older bucks if they dont die from the myriad of things that young bucks die from, the #1 cause in Alabama being lead or copper poisoning.

Again, does go into estrous on a bell curve over a about an 18 day time frame…..This isnt exact but generally speaking there’s a few in estrous during the first 6 days……A LOT in estrous during the middle 6 days…..and a few again during the last 6 days……Ideally you want enough “older bucks”….4-9 years olds……to claim all of the does in estrous during those first and last phases so that the 1-3 year olds are only breeding during the peak and not intensely competing and breeding throughout the entire rut.

This is also how the buck to doe ratio gets screwed up when you have areas with very few, if any, bucks in those older age classes……which leads to other issues like too many does having to bred in 2nd and 3rd estrous cycles…….fawn drops that are spread out and more susceptible to predation……late born fawns…..etc…….We don’t really have a problem with too many does like a lot of folks want you to believe…..we have a problem with overharvesting bucks.....Its like Goatkiller said, there isnt any actual management going on by the state....its all about a body count and just keeping populations down

i under stand that but not what im asking about. what im asking would have more to do with high grading

less stay in one rabbit hole at a time .

so youre saying 12,,,, 3 1/2 (young deer ) wont breed as many as 12,,,,, 5 1/2(old deer) , if there are no older deer the younger will breed .

I dont know how to explain it any simpler to you than I already have.....