Im really confused here. Are the deer on this property starving? it looks like a well used field to me. Not sure how one is supposed to determine if there are too many deer on this property from this picture. I got invited to a 500 acre property this year because they "had to many does" there fields looked a lot worse than this. They had not taken a doe off of that property in over 5 years. they also did not allow gun hunting on that property until after Christmas and you couldn't shoot a doe with a rifle. so when I went i took my crossbow. I was sitting on a 1/2 acre plot with a corn pile 40 yards in front of my stand. I had 11 deer come in to that corn pile at around 4 in the afternoon. I shot the biggest doe in the group. The 3 guys that hunted the property were hunting that day and they all saw at least 6 or more does and we all killed a doe that afternoon. They wanted 5 does killed off the property and we almost did it that in one afternoon. Even though I was happy to shoot a doe for them, I'm still not sold that they had "too many does" every deer we killed was close to 100 pounds I don't think they were starving.

So my question is how do you determine when there are to many deer on a property? This is directed at the OP

Million dollar question. And don't let anyone tell you that a quick site visit and property walk through can give anyone the answer.

It depends on what your goals are. If all you want to do is see the maximum amount of deer, then don't shoot does. My goal is to grow mature bucks that express their maximum potential.

Antlers are an indication of excess in a buck's life and there is higher competition for resources on my property than I'd like. My deer aren't starving, but I don't want any nutritional stress, or any other stress for that matter, on my deer at any stage of their lives to a greater extent than what is absolutely guaranteed.

^^^
Yes

And i dont shoot many does in tville cause i dont hav huge numbers amd did not shoot them on plots this year

I hate the stress on shooting lot of does and i need to shoot many in camden - just hav not taken the time. The huge numbers not only eat most of the food - they spook bucks off the food - got some old matriarch snorters that been needing to go - they snort at nothing when wind right

And my deer n camden way - way thinner - all places dont hav unlimited food - u hav a carrying capacity

I got a couple of studs n tville that can reach some potential next year if they make it. Hate the rain but great for growing deer

Lot less eyes around your field to if not over run

Based on the acreages that you stated in your original post, you’re gonna need a high fence.

Wait you want to grow mature bucks that express their potential, but did I read right that field isn't even soil tested?

Let's just say you have a 2.5 yr old on your property that shows genetic potential to blow up to 150 plus. His momma may have had the genetic that was passed to him. Start killing does and you may kill off your dominant genetic.

You’ll never know. Odds would be momma doe would be a few miles away.

If that pic is very recent that is a lot of browsing pressure. This time of year food sources especially this year, are pretty ample for browsing deer.

I have a soil test on my plots. This particular plot has a pH around 6.5 and I could fertilize it exactly to spec, but

1. It's cheaper to have chicken litter spread.
2. I don't have to spread it
3. It's not as bad for the soil as extensive use of synthetic fertilizers.
4. It still works well

Remember all the fun you had seeing and shooting does so you can tell your children/grandchildren stories of the he good ole days.

Have you seen any negative impacts on your turkeys after spreading all the chicken litter? Not trying to derail, but the mention of chicken litter being spread had me wanting to ask the question.

That was my first thought I ain’t allowing it on my property.

My best understanding from all the research I have done is the best way to have better quality bucks starts with a healthy doe. Be that your food quality, which I think plays a big role, to limiting the number of doe's, you have to start there. I run alot of cameras on different green fields, and the fields I have that get the most traffic usually have whitetail clover/fusion growing, and the soil is darker. I just planted a field in bulldog alfalfa, so I will be interested to see what happens with it.

I think its also important to have good food available when the deer need it. They really need it coming out of the rut and into fawning time. I also think, especially in Alabama, that you have to have something that is strong into August and September. If its dry, the stuff in the woods dries up in a hurry. Thats why I like clover so much, but if its dry, then it struggles some too. Sunn Hemp is my go to there.

I have heard this, my neighbor who just uses his place to hunt strictly forbids it for that reason. I have cattle and use it on my pastures and hay fields all the time. Neither of have seen where it has effected the turkey population in any way. Not saying it won't, but hasn't for me

Doe harvest should be objective driven. If it’s not achieving your objectives, then don’t do it. If it is then do it. I’m sure he’s got very justifiable reasons for wanting to kill a few does, just like some of you don’t. Doe harvest is not a one size fits all.

I had concerns when we first started spreading the chicken litter, but our turkey numbers have only continued to grow.

It's not loaded directly from the chicken houses onto the truck either. They pile it and allow it to compost for a while and apparently this breaks down the pathogens.