Buck to doe ratio question ?.

[elkchaser]

What is a healthy buck to doe ratio on average in the southern foothills ? Dose anyone know ? I am wondering because of the lack of bucks I am seeing in my hunting area,s . I am most likely going to encourage my friends and partners to take does . I haven't seen a big buck around witch I found strange this year and and most of the deer I have seen harvested are rag horns that haven't even come close to prime yet . I have always thought a a mature buck will breed 25 - 30 does ? I have seen hundreds and hundreds of does this fall and no big breeder bucks ,not even on my cameras . Anyone have any thoughts or ideas ? I know the rut is about to start and a few more bucks will expand there areas in search of does and become less nocturnal . I am almost wondering if the increased hunting pressure is putting to much pressure on bucks?

[xtreme hunter10]

Originally Posted by elkchaser

What is a healthy buck to doe ratio on average in the southern foothills ? Dose anyone know ? I am wondering because of the lack of bucks I am seeing in my hunting area,s . I am most likely going to encourage my friends and partners to take does . I haven't seen a big buck around witch I found strange this year and and most of the deer I have seen harvested are rag horns that haven't even come close to prime yet . I have always thought a a mature buck will breed 25 - 30 does ? I have seen hundreds and hundreds of does this fall and no big breeder bucks ,not even on my cameras . Anyone have any thoughts or ideas ? I know the rut is about to start and a few more bucks will expand there areas in search of does and become less nocturnal . I am almost wondering if the increased hunting pressure is putting to much pressure on bucks?

If you are seeing more and more does.... the bucks have to be out there. They probably have gone nocturnal.

[Cripler]

Find the place where doe ration to buck is significantly higher it's harder to call them in. Little off topic

[Toromir]

Originally Posted by elkchaser

What is a healthy buck to doe ratio on average in the southern foothills ? Dose anyone know ? I am wondering because of the lack of bucks I am seeing in my hunting area,s . I am most likely going to encourage my friends and partners to take does . I haven't seen a big buck around witch I found strange this year and and most of the deer I have seen harvested are rag horns that haven't even come close to prime yet . I have always thought a a mature buck will breed 25 - 30 does ? I have seen hundreds and hundreds of does this fall and no big breeder bucks ,not even on my cameras . Anyone have any thoughts or ideas ? I know the rut is about to start and a few more bucks will expand there areas in search of does and become less nocturnal . I am almost wondering if the increased hunting pressure is putting to much pressure on bucks?

I have often wondered the same thing. Too many bucks harvested would equal less does being impregnated which equals less deer overall?

[ADH]

Originally Posted by Toromir

I have often wondered the same thing. Too many bucks harvested would equal less does being impregnated which equals less deer overall?

This is a false assumption. One buck will fertilize as many does as possible/comes in contact with. If more bucks are harvested it might mean there will be less genetic diversity yes but not necessarily less does impregnated

[Zuludog]

You want to see more bucks kill less does. If the does are in an area then eventually the bucks will show up. I think if you shoot does it hurts deer populations as shooting a doe is essentially killing 2 or 3 deer? I could be wrong but that was what I was taught.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by elkchaser

I have always thought a a mature buck will breed 25 - 30 does ?

It's possible but highly unlikely a single buck would impregnate that many does. many does come into heat at the same time, A buck will pair up with one until she is bred, meanwhile other bucks are paired up with other does. The big mature buck does not do all the breeding, other bucks will jump on any doe in heat that is unattended. They don't have to be the biggest oldest buck to pass on good genes, young bucks with good genes that haven't yet grown into big bucks but do have the genes to become big high quality trophy bucks when they get older will pass on those genes if they get a chance to breed. The higher the ratio of does to bucks the better chance that they will get bred by a buck that isn't the large dominate buck in the area. Then again often the dominant buck in an area isn't necessairly the largest buck, sometimes the dominant buck is a buck that may be smaller but tougher and simply won't give up.

[mxz1997]

You need at least 3 or 4 cameras to get a good idea of how many bucks are actually in an area. I have hunted many places with a ton of nocturnal bucks on camera that I have never seen in person

[elkchaser]

I have 5 cameras out around 3 tree stands 1 blind and a game trail . I have always seen pic,s of good wt bucks .i thought this year with the mild winter we had I would catch more on cams . I have way more bull moose and even a few elk and mule deer . But not getting any big wt since spring ?..

[1Heavyhitr]

Was in my blind all day and stayed for a couple extra hours after dark to see what was moving. A group of Doe's came out every evening and the bucks came out only After Dark. They should start moving more during the day as the rut picks up here and they start thinking with their little head rather than the big one...

[The moose]

Originally Posted by Zuludog

You want to see more bucks kill less does. If the does are in an area then eventually the bucks will show up. I think if you shoot does it hurts deer populations as shooting a doe is essentially killing 2 or 3 deer? I could be wrong but that was what I was taught.

I would argue it depends on the habitat. I have noted a rise in buck populations as more does were taken in season. A property seems to hold and sustain a certain number of deer, if its all does there is not much room for more.

I am seeing more young bucks then ever before on one of my permission-ed properties and its great to see. Selective harvest helps.

[Ranch11]

In my area, 6-7 different bucks, and about 20 does. So a 1-3 there. In another spot I hunt, the ratio is more like 1-10 buck to doe.
Overall the deer look very healthy, fat does, healthy fawns. And the bucks are in very good shape, not much for horns, but a dry summer is more likely to blame than genetics. We've shot some 150-180" deer in the past.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by elkchaser

What is a healthy buck to doe ratio on average in the southern foothills ? Dose anyone know ? I am wondering because of the lack of bucks I am seeing in my hunting area,s . I am most likely going to encourage my friends and partners to take does . I haven't seen a big buck around witch I found strange this year and and most of the deer I have seen harvested are rag horns that haven't even come close to prime yet . I have always thought a a mature buck will breed 25 - 30 does ? I have seen hundreds and hundreds of does this fall and no big breeder bucks ,not even on my cameras . Anyone have any thoughts or ideas ? I know the rut is about to start and a few more bucks will expand there areas in search of does and become less nocturnal . I am almost wondering if the increased hunting pressure is putting to much pressure on bucks?

Desired buck to doe ratio, around 25-40/100.

Anything below 10/100 will likely result in does not being bred due to too few males.

While it is "healthy" for the population to to have "mature" bucks, it is not necessary for full reproductive rates. ALL bucks over six months old are "Breeders".

Shoot some does. Probably won't help the buck sightings, but the southern hill WT population is doing great, and it won't hurt anything.

What increased hunting pressure? There is generally less hunting pressure in the Southern foothills than in the last 50 years.

Can't find the big bucks? You must be a lousy hunter.


Joking of course, older WT bucks are pros at being unseen. I'll guarantee that there are plenty of Big Breeder bucks around.

[The moose]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Desired buck to doe ratio, around 25-40/100.

Anything below 10/100 will likely result in does not being bred due to too few males.

While it is "healthy" for the population to to have "mature" bucks, it is not necessary for full reproductive rates. ALL bucks over six months old are "Breeders".

Shoot some does. Probably won't help the buck sightings, but the southern hill WT population is doing great, and it won't hurt anything.

What increased hunting pressure? There is generally less hunting pressure in the Southern foothills than in the last 50 years.

Can't find the big bucks? You must be a lousy hunter.


Joking of course, older WT bucks are pros at being unseen. I'll guarantee that there are plenty of Big Breeder bucks around.

Very well said. Have the exact same thoughts.

[3blade]

Agree, more to do with the nature of the animal than the ratio.

Here's another example: one area I spend time in has a resident herd of whitetails. There is one buck that I know of, and 3-4 does. I've lived in this area for 30 years. I hike, walk the dog, drive, shoot, and generally spend a ton of time there. I have exactly one picture of the buck, at 2 am. 140 class 8 pt, three years ago. This is the first year I found his scrape line, hoping to get another pic. I see the does about 4-5 times per year.

Whitetails are absolute ghosts when they have to be. Some bucks will never venture out of cover during daylight.