Hunt 75 acres of heavily wooded land in Oklahoma, mostly cedars with oak trees mixed around the property. Only have 2 feeders and cameras, but so far I have seen on camera 8 does (2 fawns with spots) and then 3 young 8 points and a mature 9 point.

I believe the 6 adult does is all we have on a regular basis due to them being on cameras, and I imagine most of the bucks live there too or maybe on neighbors as the bucks don't show up daily like the does.

This is our 2nd year on the lease, as we didn't take any deer last year. My nephew missed a buck and although we planned on taking a doe at the end of the year, that didn't happen.

So with the knowledge of having 6 does and a few bucks on the 75 acres what would you do? I've tried to read about heard management......... and I guess I'm afraid if we take 2-3 does that will lower the #'s, but maybe it would make the bucks chase more? Obviously, I'm not a pro at this, so would love to get some feedback on how other people manage their land, and how many acres. I read about 1:1 ratio or even 1:3 buck to doe ratio. Only 4 hunters---- 2 adults and 2 kids.... My thinking would be shooting the 9 point if anyone sees him and then maybe 2 does? The kids can shoot anything they want, but are pretty good at shooting somewhat mature bucks as they have both shot some smaller ones in the past.

On 75 acres you’re not controlling enough habitat to really do much. Pretty much any deer on the properties home range extends beyond the property you lease. On one hand if nobody around hunts you can shoot more and never notice. If everyone around hunts a lot and shoots a lot soon there won’t be many deer. Deer travel and some deer make more deer, as long as you don’t go nuts I assume you will be fine. Shoot a doe or two every year and wait on the right buck would be my approach. If you notice the numbers falling then back off some.

Like Redchevy said. You can't manage 75 acres. I have 250 acres, and all my deer have home ranges that extend beyond our borders. Up in OK, we hunt on 1000 acres, and all or most of the deer up there overlap onto neighboring properties too. If nobody hunts around you, than you can blast away and possibly not make much of a dent. On the other hand, if you have hunters around you (You probably do), take a doe or two a year, and a good Buck if you get one. During the rut, bucks home range expands out and you likely see bucks that you have never seen before if you are out there.

Agree with others. Small acreage is just hard row to hoe. My only advice would be to set your expectations accordingly and all may be well.

A deer density of 7.5 is good but on 75 acres it could be disappointing. To see more ...feed more ..and more until ya see more. If after all that you don't get more deer then it will be up to you to grow more with what ya have now. My guess is that the hunter density is more than the deer can stand. But 7.5 is good and can grow from that. I would not take the does until the numbers get to where you want. I am concerned ya don't see many young spikes and four pointers. My lease I had a density of 6.79(acres per deer) at best. I would love to have the task of acquiring and growing more deer. I love a challenge.

I have 133 heavily wooded acres without much legal hunting going on around me except for poachers. I have the only corn feeders. Grandkids keep the 6 feeders going year around with deer, hogs, varmints and, birds getting the corn.

Last year, due to some nasty surgery, I didn’t get released to hunt.

Grandsons and their assorted females will bow hunt which I don’t do. Not seeing much on cams.

I’ll certainly hunt this year but am no longer passionate about it.

I was surprised that no spikes showed up on cameras too. However just put cameras and corn in feeders since August. Last year we did have a spike who would hit the feeder on a regular basis and I’d imagine he’s still around. I only know for sure the neighbor to the west hunts as I heard him shoot last year on opening day. North of us is just cows and pasture. East is 3-20 acre sections with 3 diff homes. No idea if they hunt. And south is a mixture of pasture and some trees. I don’t think there is a ton of hunting pressure around them. I know our group doesn’t hunt too much.

There used to be a wheat field 1/2 mile north of us. Drove by last week and it’s been left alone. Just natural grass.

Did try and put out some salt licks and small patches of wheat in the few areas where we could grow it.

That’s right I have 600 acres in Missouri
The bucks I see in early September till Halloween can vanish some rut. New bucks show from miles away. Ol Mistery Bucks
Most important you need to keep them does around If a buck comes in and he is 4 1/2 close to 5 may have to make that decision to Cuttem or pass. May not see him again it’s a decision in the stand but as long as your happy that’s all that matters he’s a trophy for you and food for family

We started feeders a couple of months ago. Never done that until a few weeks before bow season. I haven’t checked cams but the corn is disappearing with both deer and pig tracks.

1 deer to 20 acres where we are. We never see the same bucks now and by the rut. And thank goodness since all we see now are the doe and their fawns. In 60 days I have bucks on cam twice. Same story every year. Got to be there. 1,100 acres