texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,020
Posts9,719,467
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? #2491118 08/09/11 02:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 853
M
Matagorda Mud Pig Offline OP
Tracker
OP Offline
Tracker
M
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 853
Is it better to take more doe off my hill country lease this year, or is it better to shoot none, knowing its a tough year.

On the one hand, the drought is tough and surely will kill some deer. On the other, if there is too many, than maybe if we take a few, it will help the others out. Opinions?





Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2491147 08/09/11 02:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
T
TxAg Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
I talked to my local TPWD biologist about this topic. He said this year it's critical to take all does and culls to keep numbers in check. This will benefit overall herd health.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: TxAg] #2491349 08/09/11 04:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
C
ctonsmitty Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
C
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
Agree.....shoot em

I don't think the drought will kill as many deer as one might think. Sure there will some mortality, but we as hunters still need to do our part in keeping the numbers in check....


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2491350 08/09/11 04:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832
T
Texan Til I Die Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832
I'm going to play it by ear and wait to see what the herd looks like come October. If I'm seeing a lot of deer (which is normal) and they look poor, I'll probably start whacking them. If the numbers are already way low, or if the deer look normal, I won't take as many.

BTW - This is on a large low fence ranch in an area where the deer typically travel long distances to food and water.



Silver spurs and gold tequila
keep me hanging on.
Pretty girls and old cantinas
give me shelter from the storm.
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Texan Til I Die] #2491369 08/09/11 04:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,948
D
don k Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
D
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,948
The bad thing about killing them is that you are going to try to take the does that are in the best shape. That leaves the ones that really need to be gotten rid of.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: don k] #2491376 08/09/11 04:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 19,296
P
pokerj2 Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 19,296
popcorn



President of American Entitlements LLC
Health insurance agency focusing in all ages from ACA plans all the way through Medicare.
Office is based in Wylie, TX
We have local agents in both Texas and Louisiana
469-814-0289
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: don k] #2491383 08/09/11 04:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
S
stxranchman Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
S
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
I would not do anything without a survey to tell me what was there. You can't manage numbers by guessing. I would enlist the help of your TPWD biolgist in your county and get his onsight analysis of you exact situation. Hard for anyone else to you what to do based only off of your OP.



Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?[Linked Image]
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: stxranchman] #2491401 08/09/11 04:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,410
T
Tye Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,410
Originally Posted By: stxranchman
I would not do anything without a survey to me what was there. You can't manage numbers by guessing. I would enlist the help of your TPWD biolgist in your county and get his onsight analysis of you exact situation. Hard for anyone else to you what to do based only off of your OP.


+1. Deer management is site specific. Especially when talking numbers, habitat etc.


Last edited by Tye; 08/09/11 04:52 PM.

Originally Posted By: AmoCuernos
If you shoot a young deer because a neighbor will shoot it, you are that neighbor.
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: pokerj2] #2491402 08/09/11 04:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,369
B
blancobuster Online Content
Veteran Tracker
Online Content
Veteran Tracker
B
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,369
I plan on shooting several


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: stxranchman] #2491404 08/09/11 04:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 853
M
Matagorda Mud Pig Offline OP
Tracker
OP Offline
Tracker
M
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 853
Ok, good points its Coryell County, Southeast of Evant near "Bee Cave Road"

I will get in touch with the game biologist.





Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2491407 08/09/11 04:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
S
stxranchman Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
S
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
Originally Posted By: Diprivan
Ok, good points its Coryell County, Southeast of Evant near "Bee Cave Road"

I will get in touch with the game biologist.

Good plan and do it quick as those guys are loaded down with surveys already. Plan to help him so he can show you how to survey so you can do your own in the future.



Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?[Linked Image]
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: stxranchman] #2491435 08/09/11 05:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
T
TxAg Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
Good call Ranchman, definitely site specific.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: ctonsmitty] #2491536 08/09/11 05:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
S
Stump_jumper Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
Originally Posted By: ctonsmitty
Agree.....shoot em

I don't think the drought will kill as many deer as one might think. Sure there will some mortality, but we as hunters still need to do our part in keeping the numbers in check....


You are correct if we have have a wet and mild fall & winter.



2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4
2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Stump_jumper] #2491612 08/09/11 06:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
R
redchevy Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
I agree with others that you need to do the surveys and so forth to determie your required harvest based on carying capacity, but culling shouldnt be too much different, you are going to want to remove the bottom of the barrel of what you have the inferior will be that much more worse off.

matt



It's hell eatin em live
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: redchevy] #2491626 08/09/11 06:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
C
ctonsmitty Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
C
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 495
We will continue using game cameras as well as sight/surveys to see what we have.....

We started putting them out 4 weeks ago and we run them through January. We also put them out at the end of the season when we start protein feeding to see which deer "made it"


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: ctonsmitty] #2491960 08/09/11 09:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 825
S
Spent Brass Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
S
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 825
I'm going to get my 2 this year. According to trail cams and deer sightings on my place we can stand to cull some. Hopefully the wife and kids can punch some tags this year too. The outcome of this drought on the deer herd won't be seen for a couple years I read on another forum, so gonna try to do my part and fill the freezer at the same time.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2492028 08/09/11 09:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832
T
Texan Til I Die Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,832
Originally Posted By: Diprivan
Ok, good points its Coryell County, Southeast of Evant near "Bee Cave Road"

I will get in touch with the game biologist.
The deer in that area aren't hurting at all....yet. They actually caught a couple of rains back in late May and early June that's made a huge difference.



Silver spurs and gold tequila
keep me hanging on.
Pretty girls and old cantinas
give me shelter from the storm.
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Texan Til I Die] #2492609 08/10/11 01:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,483
jim1961 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,483
We will be taking them in line with our survey but I can see taking more because of the tough conditions


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Texan Til I Die] #2493654 08/10/11 02:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
E
Erathkid Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
E
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Originally Posted By: Texan Til I Die
I'm going to play it by ear and wait to see what the herd looks like come October. If I'm seeing a lot of deer (which is normal) and they look poor, I'll probably start whacking them. If the numbers are already way low, or if the deer look normal, I won't take as many.

BTW - This is on a large low fence ranch in an area where the deer typically travel long distances to food and water.
This is the approach we will take in Comal cty.and Real cty.



Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it.
Don't text and drive.
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Erathkid] #2493688 08/10/11 03:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
T
TxAg Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
Well, at our place in W. Llano county the deer can be as dense as 6 acres per, though it varies slightly. With low native soil nutrients it's typical that we need to keep numbers in check. This year even more so with lack of any good forbes. That being said, the early Mesquite beans might just save our bacon, if we can ever get just a little rain.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: TxAg] #2494157 08/10/11 06:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,214
D
deerfeeder Online Happy
THF Celebrity
Online Happy
THF Celebrity
D
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,214
For the places that didn't get adequate rain and your local browse sucks, after you get your numbers down, you should be okay on the does, but when you start talking about culling I can see people start shooting spikes like crazy and you are more than likely taking out 1.5's and 2.5's that would be 4 pts or 6 pts or possibly better in a good year. I'm just saying I'd look at them really close before I pulled the trigger.


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2494219 08/10/11 06:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 703
S
steve13 Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
S
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 703
saw article from P & W saying fawn survival expected to be low, maybe not as bad a 2009 when some placed in s texas has <10%%

seems best to not kill them IF there is enough food


Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: steve13] #2494245 08/10/11 06:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,518
M
MikeBillington Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
M
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,518
By the time deer season comes around there may not be any deer for us to shoot on our place. They are all leaving for the river and lake. Haven't seen a deer or tracks in a couple of weeks now.



Evelyn and Michael Billington
BILLINGTON RANCH TAXIDERMY
Georgetown, TX
254-793-2120
www.billingtonranchtaxidermy.com
www.facebook.com/billingtonranchtaxidermy (LIKE us on FB)
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: Matagorda Mud Pig] #2494530 08/10/11 08:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 853
M
murph Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
M
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 853
That decision will be made after we run our annual September survey.



[Linked Image]
Re: Shoot more does or shoot none during drought? [Re: murph] #2494904 08/10/11 11:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,756
J
jskin Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
J
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,756
Maybe the AR's will catch a break this season. Now we can blame the drought!



"While we are postponing, life speeds by"

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3