Season Got Me Thinking

Can your doe to buck ratio ever be too low? In 10-12 sits this year, saw a deer about once ever 2-3 sits and all bucks, two 10 pt shooters, a spike and young six but not one doe seen. Pics at night look like approximately 1:1 ratio doe to buck if not .5:1. Could it simply be the product of small property,less than 100 acres in SW Young county. That ratio in prior seasons seemed more like 2:1. Do have a sizeable coyote population around and surrounding pressure. Does this seem a problem?

Did have a great 2 acre foodplot nearly all season last year and for about only 3-4 weeks this season before burning out. The does also didn't seem to hit the protein as much this year as prior, maybe all the acorns.

We have always had many more bucks than doe. Probably 3 to 1. This year was no different. Weird.

Wow, that is unusual. I always thought 1:1 or 2:1 does to bucks was ideal.

It’s possible. It could be the small property thing, too. Maybe there’s more does, but the bucks like your place more than the does.

On our place, it appears the same way, however, the does are there. We just don’t see them at the feeders as much because the young bucks run them off.

Could be, Sneaky. I know I've said it before, but just a mile and a half away my neighbor friend has 1500 acres that borders the Paluxy river. He's covered in doe. His ratio is probably 4 doe per buck.

On small tracts of land it is real hard to really know. Where I am at from October to first part of November mainly does. Around second week of November it is about 2.5 does to bucks, December to January probably 2 does per buck.
There is probably about a 3-4 ratio of doe per buck where I am at.

DQ, I think in our area at least, bucks do outnumber does. I think does are more susceptible to predation & drought, which is why right now, there's less does. If the numbers continue to improve, they might equal out better. That's why I always hate to hear of dipsticks around here shooting does, there's just not much around. Of course, you can't tell your average meat gazers that. "Gotta fill muh freezer!"

Right on Maximus, no reason to significantly harvest does when the numbers are way low to bucks.

I have right around 2 Does to 1 Buck, but had a very good fawn crop this year. Best I can tell is at least 60% of the fawns are bucks. Could probably have taken out a couple more Does this year. With all the fawns the protein bill will go up for sure this year.

I have hunted Hill country The cross plains and north eastTexas always more doe by at least 4or 5 to one.That is my personal observation .Dont know what biologist numbers would show. All these places had large deer populations. Hunted Yoakum ranch San Saba county we were told that we needed to harvest 120 doe by the land owner She said that is what biologist told her. This was 3500 acres of the origanal larger ranch that she inherited .said if we did not they would have people come in and shoot for us. This went on for the last 4 years that I kept that place.We did not even pretend to enjoy that Much killing.Fudged books some and took lots friends but would kill mabey 60 doe and 6 to 10 bucks we were restricted to one buck with gentlemens agreement that you could kill really big trophy if presented with opportunity . Only happened couple times. I guess that it is possible for bucks to out number doe but have never observed this. I think it is localized to very small area. So if the harvest of the most prevalent sex is the answer then shoot some Bucks!!!!

Habitat quality (which can vary during the seasons) can also be a factor on small parcels of land.

Does...simply seek out the 'best' habitat for their Doe/Fawn family units and bucks basically get whatever is left over.

I'm sure everyone has noticed that outside the rut....Does and Bucks are not normally 'together'. Bucks are solitary or in bachelor groups, Does have their family units. They don't bed in the same areas 'normally' either.

So...habitat is something to consider along with the other variables. Small properties will generally be most affected.

Lets go kill some Doe at your place this weekend!

Have noticed more bucks to doe ratio on my place as well. Does are off limits.

IDK what my true ratio is. Cameras/observations indicate more and more bucks as the years go by and often more bucks than does - especially during certain periods.

That's what I thought....what my BIL is trying for on the west texas ranch they hunt on.....had to kill 30 does this year for their management plan.....