hilltophunter
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I think this topic is a good one to discuss.
My personal opinion is that the estimates are innaccurate.
The season for the unit that I hunt was shortened for a number of years because of the supposed buck to doe ratio, but I didn't experience any less number of bucks in the areas I hunt during those years. The bucks overall for those years seem to be on average younger in age, but I would still see roughly 6-8 bucks for every one doe at the higher elevations and then the exact reverse lower in the canyons.
I'm pretty sure most of the biologists, etc. that are counting these buck to doe ratios are doing it in November from a truck during the rut. There are a large number of deer, especially bucks that don't drop into the foothills until later in the winter months and you just can't get a good count on the buck to doe ratios from a pickup truck.
I feel that hiking the mountains in the summer months while the deer are in velvet and counting the herds at both higher and lower elevations would be a much more accurate way to estimate the buck to doe ratios for managing the herds.
Lets hear some of your experiences and opinions??
My personal opinion is that the estimates are innaccurate.
The season for the unit that I hunt was shortened for a number of years because of the supposed buck to doe ratio, but I didn't experience any less number of bucks in the areas I hunt during those years. The bucks overall for those years seem to be on average younger in age, but I would still see roughly 6-8 bucks for every one doe at the higher elevations and then the exact reverse lower in the canyons.
I'm pretty sure most of the biologists, etc. that are counting these buck to doe ratios are doing it in November from a truck during the rut. There are a large number of deer, especially bucks that don't drop into the foothills until later in the winter months and you just can't get a good count on the buck to doe ratios from a pickup truck.
I feel that hiking the mountains in the summer months while the deer are in velvet and counting the herds at both higher and lower elevations would be a much more accurate way to estimate the buck to doe ratios for managing the herds.
Lets hear some of your experiences and opinions??