why don't more folks shoot does in the hill country. So many deer running around and most of what I see at the locker plant are 2.5 - 3.5 y.o. bucks. Relatives hunt their place behind ours and shot a small spike and another young buck over the weekend. Then all we hear is 'we don't see any big deer like we used to'! We've got a screwed up buck, left side is a nice symmetrical 5, the right side has 3, put the main beam goes straight up. We'd like him to make it another year to see if it gets better, but if he goes over a fence he'll be dead. I've even told the kids to go ahead and shoot what they want as long as it's legal due to my frustrations, but then they turn around and tell me "that'll make us just like the neighbors" Just a mid-week rant.....
I believe that most hunters and their families only eat 1-2 deer a yr and if they kill a buck or 2 then there’s no need to kill a doe for meat. That’s just my opinion.... I killed 2 bucks, a doe, and a hog last yr and still have a full box of deer meat from the processor that I havnt opened and most of the hog. If I kill a buck this yr there won’t be much need in me killing a doe. I understand the management principle and would love to have a 1-1 or 1-2 buck to doe ratio but I won’t kill if if I can’t eat it. Can’t tell you the last time I bought beef either.
Originally Posted by BMD
No doubt about the AR crap, just damn shame hunters don't have self control and knowledge
I try to get my limit on does. Im batting about 500 on that endeavor, but most of the folks around me are pretty much there for horns. If I see a nice buck that has at least had a chance to pass his genes on I will take him, but not interested in 2.5YO bucks.
We always try to shoot our allotment of does, and then some if we can get the green light from other lease members that don't want theirs. We bring friends or friend's kids, and share the meat with others. We like shooting the deer and folks like getting the meat. We have plenty of deer and I feel like it helps manage the heard to keep the overall numbers in check and help the buck/doe ratio. Our deer are still plentiful and healthy so it seems to be working.
We've killed two deer so far this year (Mills county). Both does. I've passed on a 18" 8 pt that was 3.5-4.5, a bigger 10 that was maybe 4.5 but I didn't get a good age on, several 13-14" deer and one of the smallest-bodied spikes I've ever seen. I will likely shoot 5 does this year unless the big bruiser from next door comes 500 yard east.
And people wonder why there are more and more HFs.
How does shooting or not shooting doe have anything to do with HF’s?
Herd control, get ratios correct.
People claim to be meat hunters, but very very few are. They'll pass on a doe again and again to shoot the first buck that shows its face.
Probably 95% of leases, that aren't on mld, would benefit from having it in the lease that you have to shoot a doe or two before you shoot a buck.
Erathkid is a prime example, no offense, and there's still missing info, but why shoot a young 3yo? He was on a meat hunt but passes on does bc it has twice as much meat? Then shoot two does as someone else suggested and let that 3yo go. I give a pass on this scenario if it was a mgmt buck though.
I know a lot of guys that will say that they are letting the doe go until after the rut in hopes that they can get a buck chasing. Where there's doe there will be bucks, I hear all the time. Then they will shoot a buck (and sometimes one that really could go a couple more years) and never shoot a doe.
Me, if I see a doe it goes in the freezer. I won't lie, I like having antlers hanging in the house, but if I get a doe or two a season, I am perfectly happy.
It works out great if you are on a place that will allow guests to come out and shoot a doe. We've done that for the past few years with friends and co-workers and it really helps with the population control. It's also an added bonus to get to see people so excited and amp'ed up when they shoot a doe - possibly even their first deer. Over all a great experience to get to be a part of - something that a lot of folks take for granted.
Some places don't need an abundance of does shot though. From everything we see we have a good balance of both. I haven't seen a single doe stop to eat in 3 weekends so far. Seen about 11 doe total in range and 20 bucks. Some of those ugly bucks need to go. Will take a doe or spike later. Already got my buck and it was mature.
And people wonder why there are more and more HFs.
How does shooting or not shooting doe have anything to do with HF’s?
Have you not read the first post? This person seems to have a problem with what his neighbors want to shoot. I had the same problem years ago. I now have a HF and I can decide what needs to be taken and what not. Now I could give a rats rear end what they do. And now I have hunters out that as far as I know are very satisfied on what they take. I see what the quality is on places next to mine that are still LF as I still have a small place there. It is nothing compared to mine and I don't feed protein. So unless you are too dense to comprehend or understand your question then I feel for you.
I tell my kids if it isn't mature or a obvious cull (not a spike or yearling forkhorn) then there is no point in shooting it. Does are a lot easier to come by.
its the old mentality that is still hanging around. I too know very few "meat hunters" that would shoot a doe over a 2 year old 8 point. In most places, you can stand to harvest twice as many does as you do bucks.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
ddmm first sentence was regarding why people don' t kill more doe. ETEXAS FIREMAN 1 seems to be making the point of why shoot a doe if you don't need it. No matter if it is HF or LF. don K nothing was said about the quality of deer. Maybe you should step outside and get some fresh air.
Our place is under 400 acres, and we are in no position to HF. Try and rely on neighbors to help out. I think it's on the eastern side of Mills county they've got a large group of landowners all working together to manage the herd, I think it's called the Simms Creeks WMA. They've done a great job getting various landowners with multiple tracks of land working together. I'm not expecting to get consistent 160 - 180" deer, but get some age, greater than 3.5 yo's. I'll admit, I used to shoot every spike that walked by, but now I try and determine if it's a 2.5 - 3.5 YO that just isn't going to make it. Good to see the different viewpoints without anyone getting into an all out argument here. I know it's to each his own...most folks pay a good price to hunt.
I know a lot of guys that will say that they are letting the doe go until after the rut in hopes that they can get a buck chasing. Where there's doe there will be bucks, I hear all the time. Then they will shoot a buck (and sometimes one that really could go a couple more years) and never shoot a doe.
Me, if I see a doe it goes in the freezer. I won't lie, I like having antlers hanging in the house, but if I get a doe or two a season, I am perfectly happy.
I passed on a few doe at a friends place this weekend. Ended up shooting a 3 YO 8pt. He was twice as big as the doe and it was a meat hunt, so....
Two smaller doe is better than one decent young 8 point. IMO
I enjoy seeing more bucks than doe at my feeder, but hey that's just me.
Depends on the ranch. Some places dont have enough deer to shoot doe. We haven't shot a doe in 20 years of owning our place. Buck to doe ratio is apprx.2 bucks per doe. We aren't even close to carrying capacity. The ranch I hunted this weekend was sold recently, so our motto was "if its brown its down". I'll gladly shoot doe at my FILs place in Comal county, he has 5 doe per buck. Every place is different.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
We have a 1:1 ratio right now on buck and doe. In our case, I want doe to continue procreating, and, by removing them, we won't get more deer. I would also add that i think TPWD has the seasons backasswards. Instead of limiting the doe season, they should limit the buck season. I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with me on this, but most people would wind up taking more does if they don't see the buck they want. That's my $0.02
My area, doe hunting shuts down on the 25th of November, so you gotta getem fast if you don’t bow hunt. My problem this year is that I haven’t and won’t get much stand time until after Thanksgiving. And my little 500 acre lease is smothered with them. I will take a doe all day.
I own land in San Saba county. Our ratio is close to 1 to 1 with the edge belonging to bucks. This land has been in the family since 1932 and years back the ratio was probably 5 to 1 does.My son sat in the blind last Saturday and had a 10, 2 8's, 2 6's and 3 other bucks out eating corn and oats all at the same time. They all got a pass. All the people around us, and us, sure killed a lot of does over the years, leaving bucks alone, and it has made a big difference. Last year I only shot 2 does. This year I took an 18" 9 point 1 hour into my first hunt. Now I can mess around the campfire with my dutch ovens, hunt varmints with my hi powered pellet gun, make jerky and watch the winter birds at the feeder by the camp. Life is good at our place in the hill country. In general I would say lots of progress has been made in the area over the years. We are low fence and see no need for a high fence. Monster bucks aren't something I need to spend that kind of money on. We enjoy the whole experience of hunting with family more than a singular quest for a huge buck. For what I would pay for a high fence I could go to Alaska and get a moose, a few times.
"It's not dyin' I'm talkin' about Woodrow, it's livin'!"
Saw a bumper sticker yesterday in New Braunfels, it read "you can always tell a GERMAN, you just cant them 'em much"
There is a logic of not shooting does to perpetuate the species engrained in many of them and the rest just like to shoot something with horns is my opinion.