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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Such thing as too many bucks?
#6208290
03/03/16 05:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33
Dbax
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33 |
This was our first year in Val Verde county. We have 3100 acres and 10 hunters. We all saw more bucks (mostly young) than we seemed to see of does. We saw plenty of deer every hunt from every stand. My question is there a such thing as having too many bucks to doe ratio?
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6208343
03/03/16 06:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719 |
There is definitely such thing. We saw 5-10 bucks and 1-2 does every sit this year at my friend's place, and the does were all horribly emaciated because the bucks were pushing them off food sources.
I ended up shooting a 2.5 yr old 8 point with subpar tine length. One of my buddies (not the owner) was pissed at me, but everyone seemed to agree that they drastically needed to cut numbers, and when there's nothing but tons of bucks, you need to trim the buck numbers. When I shot it, there were 5 1.5 or 2.5 yr-old bucks in front of me and 2 does. I shot the 1 I thought to be the least promising.
No one else pulled the trigger all weekend because everyone was terrified to shoot young bucks. But sometimes you absolutely have to.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6208376
03/03/16 06:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
IMO seeing more bucks than does was a by-product of abundant rainfall in many areas. I had a ton of young bucks on corn/protein/oats and very few does. Really good fall rains and the does did not have to move from cover very often to feed. Nothing changed in my buck to doe ratio from one year to the next other than I saw less does. Where did they go? My neighbor stopped and visited with me about the season. He asked if I was seeing many bucks? I said yes, seeing .71 does/1 buck this year compared to last year of 1.23 does/1 buck. He laughed and said all he saw this year was mainly does with a few bucks. He had all the does all season and I had all the bucks. Might be back to normal next year. Really does not bother me as long as I get a fawn crop of decent numbers. It is not unusual when you have a good buck to doe ratio with a lot of young bucks to see very few does till late season/post rut unless it was wet like this year.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people? ![[Linked Image]](http://neoswarm.com/images/Bug_Crawling.gif)
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6208428
03/03/16 07:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 349
JHeflinland
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 349 |
Where are you at in Val Verde? I am close to Juno. Last year was our third year to hunt the place that we have, and we ALWAYS see more bucks than does at feeders. When they are rutting, the does are all over the place, but they very rarely jump in a feeder pen. Seems like other than a few regulars, we see most of the does when we are cruising around on roads and then they magically appear around some stands during the rut. Sometimes you might swear there are no does on the place at all. I think the bucks keep them away from feeders, and I almost think they are smarter than the bucks. Mostly young, stupid bucks at feeders. Feed roads outside of pens, and at a stand where we might not see a single doe in November, we've seen as many as 15 in a road at one time. This is usually during a really hard cold snap, or one of those magic days during the rut.
Overall, I think there are a lot more does on our place than we think. Sounds like your place is a lot like ours.
If ducks had horns I'd probably be a duck hunter.
I am a horrible deer hunter. Probably the worst. Ever.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: JHeflinland]
#6208568
03/03/16 09:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33
Dbax
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33 |
Where are you at in Val Verde? I am close to Juno. Last year was our third year to hunt the place that we have, and we ALWAYS see more bucks than does at feeders. When they are rutting, the does are all over the place, but they very rarely jump in a feeder pen. Seems like other than a few regulars, we see most of the does when we are cruising around on roads and then they magically appear around some stands during the rut. Sometimes you might swear there are no does on the place at all. I think the bucks keep them away from feeders, and I almost think they are smarter than the bucks. Mostly young, stupid bucks at feeders. Feed roads outside of pens, and at a stand where we might not see a single doe in November, we've seen as many as 15 in a road at one time. This is usually during a really hard cold snap, or one of those magic days during the rut.
We are about 8 miles down 189 from 277 out of Sonora.
You place sounds just like ours. We see a ton of younger deer and the does we see are young as well. I think we will have a better feel for the area after this year.
Another thing I like is we have never seen or heard a coyote yet. Is that normal for that area?
Overall, I think there are a lot more does on our place than we think. Sounds like your place is a lot like ours.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6212335
03/07/16 02:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 14
sotol buster
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 14 |
We hunt west of the 163 and 189 intersection, It's not unusual to see more bucks than does. The young bucks will dominate a feeder and no doe can get relaxed with them around, I started putting 2 feeders spread 80 to 100 yards apart, The does get chased of one and will wander over to the other. Also scatter corn when I'm there and put out some sotol.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6212503
03/07/16 08:28 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177
DH3
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177 |
I have a ranch in Val Verde (Off 277/377). We killed more bucks than does this year. The does are there (we have them on game cameras) but the food source from this years rains allowed them to stay away from the feeders. Here's a picture of one of the bucks, still at the taxidermist being finished up. 
Old age and treachery beats youth and stupid every time!
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6212950
03/07/16 06:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,603
Sneaky
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,603 |
We hunt Val Verde and experience the same. The does are there. They just get harassed by the bucks so much that they avoid the feeders more.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: DH3]
#6212978
03/07/16 06:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33
Dbax
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 33 |
I have a ranch in Val Verde (Off 277/377). We killed more bucks than does this year. The does are there (we have them on game cameras) but the food source from this years rains allowed them to stay away from the feeders. Here's a picture of one of the bucks, still at the taxidermist being finished up. very nice deer! I am considering doing a food plot this year in my area. Do you guys know what would grow well and be effective in Val Verde?
All Bucks are not created equal.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6212980
03/07/16 06:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
very nice deer!
I am considering doing a food plot this year in my area. Do you guys know what would grow well and be effective in Val Verde?
Rocks grow very well...  I would not spend money on food plots in that desert like area. If you have livestock they will eat it up as fast as the deer unless you fence it.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: stxranchman]
#6213288
03/07/16 10:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177
DH3
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177 |
Forget the food plots, waste of your time/money and equipment. If you feel you must do something different, mix some protein into your corn feeders...
Old age and treachery beats youth and stupid every time!
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: stxranchman]
#6213296
03/07/16 10:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
very nice deer!
I am considering doing a food plot this year in my area. Do you guys know what would grow well and be effective in Val Verde?
Rocks grow very well... I would not spend money on food plots in that desert like area. If you have livestock they will eat it up as fast as the deer unless you fence it. maybe hes got a rainmaka
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: Dbax]
#6214382
03/08/16 05:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2
BrianG
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2 |
We hunt about 9 miles down 189 from 277. We don't see many does at the feeders also. If we do any walking we always see a ton of them.
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: BrianG]
#6214384
03/08/16 05:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067 |
We hunt about 9 miles down 189 from 277. We don't see many does at the feeders also. If we do any walking we always see a ton of them. 
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Re: Such thing as too many bucks?
[Re: titan2232]
#6214435
03/08/16 05:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
We hunt about 9 miles down 189 from 277. We don't see many does at the feeders also. If we do any walking we always see a ton of them.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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