How do you tell that the habitat is declining? And, if it’s declining, isn’t what really matters the impact on deer? Also, wouldn’t you want to improve it rather than shoot does?

It’s all pretty subjective and a matter of opinion on where any one person thinks is the appropriate place to manage…..BUT….


You can do like a timber cruise but instead of assessing the timber with each plot you do an assessment on the understory vegetation…..What species do you see present in each plot….in what abundance do the different understory plant species exist? How does this year’s assessment compare to prior years??......Some folks are looking to manage at levels where certain plant species are allowed to flourish and reproduce without being wiped out by the deer…..You’re looking for diversity and higher preference plants to still be present and not browsed into “extinction” so to speak….. to where the quality of the overall forage declines

In other words, if you have privet then your habitat is still pretty good 😂😂.

We take 20+ off 2000 acres for years. 200+lb bucks and 120+lb does are common. Lot of does have twins and some triplets

There's a wide range in how properties are managed.....When it comes down to it deer will damn near eat anything green......There's a lot of difference in the preferences and quality though......I think if you want to really be able to make a judgement call in this matter then you need to be fairly familiar with the majority of our understory plant species and know how to identify them. Most of the time I find that the deer population goes hand in hand with the quality of the habitat and the population not something we really have to manage in most situations now that the coyote is in place.....What I mean by that is that I dont see Enon Plantation type population densities anywhere else but where there is habitat there to support such a population.....The same population does not exist on lesser lands with people needing to shoot their way out of it....The lesser managed lands have fewer deer

A lot of this revolves around plant diversity and land management practices……The deer aren’t gonna populate themselves beyond what the land can sustain when there is a vibrant predator population in place. The coyotes are doing more than we currently realize…..One thing I believe they are doing is busting up heavy concentrations of deer in areas where the habitat is more fragmented…..I believe I’ve seen this here at my place….Big influx in coyotes over the past several years….big decrease in doe population…..However, I had beggar lice on my pants for the first time this year…..You see the coyotes are busting up my efforts to stockpile does and in turn giving this area of habitat a little break from the intense browsing….which allows some of the more preferred species to prosper and replenish the seed bank for the future with things like beggar lice…..Its when the seed bank runs empty and there is nothing left to replenish the plant community that there becomes a real diminish in the “quality” of the habitat….Again though, I think the coyote is nature’s defense against that. The herd is not gonna exceed what the habitat will support….the yote will eliminate the excess before there is any crisis.


This is also an area where rotating cattle could help with plant diversity

Top cat do you still see as many after taking them?

We're the longest standing property on the state DMP. We cut off doe kills no later than 12-31 each year. Had a 130lb doe taken yesterday. Never seems to effect sightings. We're blessed to have the property.

We take 30-40 off 2100 acres every year and still covered up with deer.

It’s different on every property.

You can't raise cattle and only sell bulls

We use to not shoot them and were seeing same numbers as we did when we didn’t shoot them, so why would they shoot them? The only way you can due it I think without hurting your deer numbers is in a high fence.

This is the best advice you should consider, and follow.

Ok

Will a district biologist make a visit to a leased property? We lease from a timber company and they want us to kill 12 does off 1,800 acres. Problem is we won’t see 12 does the whole season

Lefthorn, as long as you have permission to hunt the property the biologist over the area will certainly meet with you to make recommendations.

Awesome. Thanks Matt

QDM and QDMA sometimes gets a lot of heat and is blamed for hunters killing of too many does. The QDMA has never said to kill, kill, kill does. QDM suggests having a balanced sex ratio and having X number of deer on your property in which a deer herd can exist in a healthy existence. And, the QDMA encourages habitat enhancements.

There are A LOT of factors in deciding your doe harvest, if any.

Yes, get a biologist in there. But no property can handle a bunch of wildlife "CONSUMERS" that pay thousands of dollars per yr so that they can "feed their family" and shoot every 2.5 yr old buck and any buck they see. If you "give back" to the land and wildlife, it will give back to you! In other words, be good stewards of the land.

Just on my soap box and I know you're doing it right, man!! Good luck!