this may be the most complicated question every posted on this forum. Lots of assumptions go into the question. What part of the state, are you looking to kill trophies, looking to kill numbers, shoot a deer every year or willing to take one every few years.
To me, if one is trophy hunting, it comes down to simple math.
As an example, lets take carrying capacity per 1000 acres, % of those deer that are mature bucks and you come up with lets just say 5 mature bucks or 1 per 200 acres. Under this scenario, assuming the neighbors are management minded as well, if I owned 200 acres I'd try and take a mature buck every year. If I owned 50 acres I think the right thing to do is take a mature buck every 4 years.
I dont' think anyone argues that theyre the states deer, but I also don't think that anyone would argue that if your area has a well balanced herd and neighbors are shooting the appropriate number of deer and your shooting numbers that exceed your carrying capacity that youre part of the problem.

That's my dream. You're living my dream.

Give it over, you thieving rat.

I'm just saying if youre surrounded by a neighbor thats 1600 acres and youre 400 acres, that if the carrying capacity indicates theres an average of 1 mature buck per 400 acres, the right thing to do is for you to only take one and them to take 4. but thats a very generic deer density admittedly

If they were in fact mature 5yr old+ bucks why would it matter if that's all you were taking. Would also need the same to happen on the neighboring property's but lets just say they are doing the same and all young bucks 3yr olds maybe 4yr olds get a pass.

Everyone in here who owns all this land makes me jealous haha. I've been saving up deployment money to hopefully be able to get some land one day

This is only the second time I have felt compelled to comment on a subject since becoming a member: IMO the guy that owns 10 acres that borders a 1,000 acres is better off than the guy that owns a 1,000 surrounded by 10 acre tracts (low fence of course). I fully understand that we do not own the deer, but it is a horrible situation to manage deer that are killed the instant they jump the fence. I have 9 different properties that border mine, and all of them have "hunters" that reap the rewards of our hard work. I have tried to make my peace with it, but it is very hard to do.

X2

I have 68 acres and on two sides there is 240 acres and on the other side there is 460 acres of open woods that are pine trees growing for timber production. There is very little hunting pressure on the surrounding land, which is very thick. I have a food plot and corn feeder going year round. I don't see very many deer, but the hogs can be pretty bad. I shoot a lot of hogs, but have never shot a deer in the last ten years that I've had the land. I've had legal bucks walk past me and feed in my food plot and corn, but nothing I wanted to shoot. Hog meat tastes better then deer meat, so I'm waiting for something that gets me excited.

The good thing about having a few acres is that I just walk out my back door to my blind, sit in it until it warms up and then walk back and enjoy my day or go to work. If I get home and there is still light out, I will go sit in my blind and see what's out and about. It's not what I would call great hunting, but it's a very nice feeling to not have to deal with driving anywhere to hunt or take the time off to be out in the field. I don't think there is such a thing as too small a place to hunt, it's all about being in the field and doing what you can with the land you have to bring the animals in. For me, it's a year round game that I enjoy.

Eddie

Nicely put.

We bought 82 acres a little over a year ago. Not a huge deer population, but we only have 1 blind, our feeder and a small few acre food plot. Not much hunting pressure on the surrounding land either. Yes, we eventually want more land, but it is a start and we are proud of what we have. I will take what I have any day over the lease I was on prior to buying this land. I had great fun at the lease, but there is something special knowing this is mine to do what I want