We live in a world of record keeping. We monitor our weight, stock prices, cholesterol, blood pressure, and our bank statements. Why should our hunting be any different? Recording what we see and do in the outdoors only leads to a better understanding of our deer herd. When I was younger, first starting out deer hunting, I never would have thought of writing down every deer or turkey that I saw in the woods. Now itÕs a totally different story. Every time I venture into the woods I have my camera, and my little spiral note book ready to document every last detail. It might sound a little over zealous, but it definitely lets me know how adequately or inadequately IÕm doing my job. Preferably the latter, but it lets me know none the less. I also write ,what some might call, a journal of every hunt I go on while IÕm there that way my kids can go back after IÕm gone and it be just like theyÕre on the hunt with me. But some may not want to take management as far as I do, but if you follow these few simple steps youÕll be off to better deer hunting before you know it.
With deer populations at an all time high, and rising as we speak throughout the United States, shooting a buck is not as difficult as it was in the past. Some hunters are selective on what buck they take. In some hunting circles, a few I personally know first hand, itÕs about how many bucks you pass up- a practice that is a 180 degree turn from days of yore. TodayÕs deer hunter has many more choices from when I even began hunting some 14 years ago. And to my delight more and more hunters are realizing their role as managers. Not only is the future of hunting in our hands, so is the size of the deer hunters cherish. Deer hunting will only survive if we as hunters characterize ourselves as a free environmental service to the nonhunting public. This is particularly important in areas where deer numbers are skyrocketing to a point that is detrimental to the habitat in which they live. Not only is the nutritional content of the food in these areas drastically reduced, but regrowth often ceases entirely, which alters plant communities. In some places deer also represent a hazard on our highways. The most cost effective way to drastically reduce this problem is to use hunters as a means of population control. ItÕs also very important that hunters realize that we make a management decision every time we pull the trigger. More important than that is that those management decisions that we make are critiqued and analyzed by nonhunters. Even though trophy hunting isnÕt particularly accepted by nonhunters, hunting and its role in deer management is. You the hunter should realize that deer herds can be managed in many different ways for various reasons. Ever since the idea of being able to produce quality deer was introduced, many publications and writers have made hunters believe that deer management is more difficult than it actually is. In reality, deer management is really very basic, and hunters can implement their own realistic management plan on their own land regardless of how large or small that tract might be.
Habitat is the number one requirement for all wildlife. Without appropriate habitat deer would not exist. However, the whitetail is an extremely adaptable animal that not only survives but flourishes in a vast selection of habitats. The three components of habitat are food, cover, and water. If one component is missing the animal might visit the area but they will not live there full time. ItÕs the managerÕs responsibility to determine what components might be lacking in his respective area. They can then attempt to resolve the problem. In extremely dry areas like south Texas water would be the major factor that affects deer management plans. Options to rectify the situation would be the construction of windmills or stock tanks. But a more efficient way would be to install submersible pumps in an underground water supply. The pump could be powered by electricity or even solar power. Shade is also another important component to quality habitat. Particularly in the South temperatures rise to dangerous levels which is detrimental to wildlife. Animals require trees for both escape cover and shade. For years, ranchers have root plowed pastures to eliminate trees to boost grass production for livestock. Ranchers are now realizing the economic impact deer hunting represents to their operations are reducing the amount of trees they remove. The timber industry employs a similar practice along streams when clear cutting.
Even with ideal habitat, a certain piece of land can only sustain a specific number of deer. This is commonly referred to as the carrying capacity of your land. Even though itÕs almost impossible to determine the exact number of deer on your property, several methods can provide an acceptable estimate. Knowing your herd numbers, including the sex ratios and fawn-per-doe ratios, help hunters make better management decisions. More important, annual data compilations can help hunters when measuring the impact their harvests have on the deer herd. Learning how to age deer based on tooth wear is extremely important. Age, weight and antler dimension data are the most important factors for determining reasonable management goals. Management plans can be as simple or as complex as youÕd like them to be. I recommend having a wildlife biologist review your plan. This will not only save you money, but time as well. If you see only a few mature bucks, you may want to increase the number of big bucks on your property. Since antler size is primarily a product of age and nutrition, by reducing the amount of bucks you harvest, you would allow more bucks to reach maturity which can produce more desirable racks. This can be achieved by implementing an antler point or spread restriction, also just by passing on the younger deer that are present on your property. The next method would be to estimate the population change. In South Texas, helicopters are used to survey thousands of acres. Obviously, this technique wouldnÕt work in heavily forested land. The most economical is the collection of incidental sightings (the little spiral, and camera mentioned earlier). Each time you see a deer or turkey record it in your log book. Data collected should include sex, estimated age, and, if male, an estimate of the rack size. Personally, I estimate by the Pope and Young Club scoring system, but thatÕs only because I donÕt allow deer to be harvested with any firearm on my land, just personal preference no other specific reason. By gathering this information, you can actually measure the deer herdÕs response to your management procedures. The third step would include increasing the doe kill to reduce pressure on native forage. A lower deer population ensures plant regeneration while guaranteeing the surplus of highly nutritious vegetation. ItÕs proven that bucks on a highly nutritious diet produce the best racks. Sticking to the plan for 5 years should increase the number of older, larger-racked bucks on your property.
The methods previously explained above are only a few of the many methods that can improve not only buck quality but the overall health of your deer herd. You could also implement food plots, prescribed burns or even fertilize the native vegetation already existing on your property. The more you get involved with deer management, the more youÕre going to want to explore different techniques to reach your goals. Once success is realized, some managers make their goals more challenging. Designing a plan is easy. Implementing the plan is whatÕs difficult. It takes time, money, and a lot of dedication to be successful in deer management. But once you reach success in your management plan you will definitely realize it was time and effort well spent.
J.J. is from South Texas and has been hunting for around 14 years. He has a BachelorÕs degree in wildlife management, and is going to be continuing his education in the near future as he attempts to obtain his MasterÕs in Wildlife Biology. He enjoys hunting whitetail and hogs in the mesquite choked brush of Texas.
If you have questions regarding land management, J.J. is a regular in our forums. You can chat with J.J. here. He is ready to take your questions or comments.
