What percentage do you think of mature deer in Alabama, bucks and does, die of old age and natural causes vs hunters? I would think it would be very very small. Like 5% or less small.

You folks that study these goats more than I do lend up your opinion and any facts. I am curious.

seems like estimated 1.5 million deer in state and about 400,000 killed annulally. not exact cause many many never reported + vehicle kills etc. so i would say higher than 5%

so you think hunters kill 95% of the 6+ year old bucks in Alabama????

I'd say way over 50% of the 6+ year old bucks die of non hunter related causes.....

I've always felt that once they make it to over five they are nearly unkillable.

I have no idea. That's why I asked.

Not sure it has ever been researched. There are a lot of reasons for deer mortality other than hunter related. If you just boil it down to older age class buck deaths, I'd venture to say that more die from natural (non-human) related death than are harvested by hunters.

I've had pictures of several mature deer (bucks and does) that were never seen in person by a hunter. I have followed deer on camera for 8+ years until they were gone. We did kill a 147 inch buck that was 8.5 years old. I had pictures of him since he was 2.

I'll see if I can dig up any papers on something similar.

I agree and concur.

not many bucks in Alabama make it to six years old, maybe 3-4 out of a hundred born.

And I guess thats why I guessed so low,
Just didn't figure in Alabama many were able to sport around a sagging belly or nice headgear and live to see a natural death.

problem is once they do make it to five er six they have learned enough or found a niche that makes em unkillable. They move very little at that age.

We've been hunting some of the same area for years an once they get over 3 1/2 they seem to disappear. I wonder how many die every year from fighting?

Seems like every now and then there would be some nice skulls found from deer that died naturally. I mean the ones that were not eaten and consumed by yotes, squirrels and other varmints that eat and gnaw on bone for minerals, etc.

I found some nice skeletal remains on bucks out in TX. Got a few of the antlers still sitting in my garage.

I think one reason they aren't found more often is that they tend to hang out in places that humans NEVER go for whatever reason. It dosen't have to be a big place just a spot that is never walked on.

Get with a group of rabbit hunters that hunt well managed properties. You find some skulls or what is left of them. We find several every year.

I also agree and concur.

I agree. It could be as high as 90% on 6+ yr. old bucks that aren't killed by hunters.

This.


I think even with the amount of game cameras and hunters in the woods more monsters live and die unnoticed, especially in thick, swampy areas.

This is even true with dogs,its hard to kill a 5+ year old deer any way you try.