Posted By: Dbax
Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/03/16 05:31 PM
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?
Posted By: cameron00
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/03/16 06:12 PM
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.
Posted By: stxranchman
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/03/16 06:48 PM
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.
Posted By: JHeflinland
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/03/16 07:36 PM
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.
Posted By: sotol buster
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 02:48 AM
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.
Posted By: DH3
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 08:28 AM
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.
Posted By: Sneaky
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 06:26 PM
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.
Posted By: Dbax
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 06:51 PM
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?
Posted By: stxranchman
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 06:53 PM
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.
Posted By: DH3
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/07/16 10:54 PM
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...
Posted By: BrianG
Re: Such thing as too many bucks? - 03/08/16 05:06 PM
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.
