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I guess I could understand that then. How many does do you think one buck breeds per season? Serious question. Living where you do on a ranch you would probably have a very informative answer.

Was recently at deer camp reading some deer biology book by one of the big deer biologists. Believe it was Larry W or could have been kroll. Said typicall 3/4 does a season, as typically a buck will stay with a doe and breed her for 2-3 days. I was kinda surpised it was that low.

KevinJ, We feel that we are lucky if our really nice bucks breed 2 or 3 doe's per season, many people think our deer are pen raised or pet deer nothing could farther from the truth, they are as wild as any deer you have ever seen, we keep about 30 trail camera's working at water holes and protien feeders, from Aug. to March, I have looked at over 100,00 pictures so far this year, and we still kill bucks that we have never seen on camera, we have a total of 64 water tanks or ponds as some people call them, we move camera's about every 2 weeks, some times we will see a buck in one place then 2 day's later he will be 20 miles from were we saw him the last time, they will move long distance's late in the rut looking for hot doe's, I have a water tank and protien feed 100 yrds from the back door of my house and I get suprised every year by what shows up here.

Hope this answer's part of your Question's. Rio7

Thanks for the reply. Not surprised at how far they will move during the rut. Buck we killed this year in Ohio was on camera 7 miles away all summer before showing up late October on us. Kinda crazy isn’t it

Wow, I'd have never guessed that. For whatever reason I'd have guessed much higher.

That’s what I’ve heard. Kinda goes against what one would think.

Some contend that culling doesn’t help. Well, it makes me feel better to kill a mature buck with no future. At least there are 2-3 does he won’t breed. May not help, IMO, can’t hurt.

DF

The People that think culling doe's not work, are the people that don't cull hard enough. Rio7

Agree. Dead, sorry buck don’t breed. Live, good ones do. The fact that bucks breed just a few does, aren’t herd animals like elk, factor into their hypothesis.

IIRC that was Quality Deer Mgt wisdom. They had a property with various mgt options regarding culling. Concluded there was no difference in outcome.

The difference may be subtle, but killing a cull means there are a couple of does he won’t breed. They say it doesn’t help; I say it can’t hurt. Makes me feel better.

DF

Hmm, it would seem to me that's an argument against statewide APRs, yes?

Maybe Coues breed more aggressively. I read somewhere that here in AZ whether the buck to doe ratio is 1:1 or 1:10, all the does get bred, fwiw.

They must be more like an antelope in that regard.

DF

Yep. Longer tines would put him in the world class category and supplemental feeding on a large controlled ranch could easily do it.

This will surprise a lot of folks as many think a super-buck or two in an area is/are doing the bulk of the breeding.
When one takes into account that a buck will spend probably 48-60 hours (maybe longer) with a single doe, it sort of puts "the rut window" into perspective.

In a good year like this year most of our doe's have twins, when we did DNA TESTS on a lot the fawns we trapped about 10 years ago 94% of our twins had a different buck for their sire.

I have seen a dominate buck breed a doe and walk a little ways away and a another buck breed the same doe. makes ya think who's their daddy??

Rio7

Rio, those younger bucks are opportunistic buggers.

SKane, Just like Horny teenagers. Rio7

I kill every adult (mature) buck with inferior, odd shaped, mis matched racks I get the chance.
Like D F said, it can't hurt....makes me feel better.




That's what I think !


Jerry