HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
I’m keeping tabs on an area that is roughly 600 acres. It is also relatively narrow and long. It has as much habitat diversity as anyone could ask for (ag fields, open hardwoods, ridges, hollows, mountains, fingers, creeks, springs, thickets, food plots and benches). I am actively managing about 300 acres.
I have noticed that we do have a large amount of does. We haven’t killed one since 2012 and I don’t think the neighbors have shot many. They generally bed in the cover closest to the food and I get an abnormally large amount of pictures of them on the food plot cameras. I also bump them frequently when driving field edges. They show up on the cameras all throughout the day when the food isn’t pressured, but the bucks (2, 3, 4+yo) almost never do.
I also feed corn (one or two spots) throughout the season. I get more daylight buck pictures on the corn during the summer months (June, July, August) and the winter months (December, January, February). The does don’t come as frequently because I believe the bucks run them off during this time. Bucks rarely hit the corn (even at night) during the prime months (September, October, November) even when there is ZERO hunting pressure, but I do get lots of doe/fawn/young buck pictures. I think this is due to better food availability (ACORNS) in areas they are bedding and feel the safest during those months. I have been monitoring this closely for 10 years and haven’t seen a weak acorn crop yet and the pattern has continued.
We also seem to have a good age structure with 3 or 4 4yo+ bucks year to year and the same number or slightly more 2-3 yo bucks. Last year I did a better job of running cameras during the season and had 9 3yo+ bucks on camera during November. Post season scouting shows that they are mainly bedding on the benches (or just off) and secondary ridges. The rub lines generally show up in the same spots year to year. These areas are 100 to 1000 yards from the closest food plots and doe bedding areas in almost every case.
All that to say, I do believe you can create a ‘doe factory’ if your property setup doesn’t leave room for the bucks to bed. If you have five food plots on 100 acres spread evenly, the mature bucks just don’t have room to get away from the does (once enough show up) and be the solitary creature they like to be until it’s time to breed. They will likely mingle with them early, but find bedding away from them when they lose their velvet. These bucks will be cruising through when it is time to breed so there is hope. You can shoot the does, but others will fill back in eventually.
I have noticed that we do have a large amount of does. We haven’t killed one since 2012 and I don’t think the neighbors have shot many. They generally bed in the cover closest to the food and I get an abnormally large amount of pictures of them on the food plot cameras. I also bump them frequently when driving field edges. They show up on the cameras all throughout the day when the food isn’t pressured, but the bucks (2, 3, 4+yo) almost never do.
I also feed corn (one or two spots) throughout the season. I get more daylight buck pictures on the corn during the summer months (June, July, August) and the winter months (December, January, February). The does don’t come as frequently because I believe the bucks run them off during this time. Bucks rarely hit the corn (even at night) during the prime months (September, October, November) even when there is ZERO hunting pressure, but I do get lots of doe/fawn/young buck pictures. I think this is due to better food availability (ACORNS) in areas they are bedding and feel the safest during those months. I have been monitoring this closely for 10 years and haven’t seen a weak acorn crop yet and the pattern has continued.
We also seem to have a good age structure with 3 or 4 4yo+ bucks year to year and the same number or slightly more 2-3 yo bucks. Last year I did a better job of running cameras during the season and had 9 3yo+ bucks on camera during November. Post season scouting shows that they are mainly bedding on the benches (or just off) and secondary ridges. The rub lines generally show up in the same spots year to year. These areas are 100 to 1000 yards from the closest food plots and doe bedding areas in almost every case.
All that to say, I do believe you can create a ‘doe factory’ if your property setup doesn’t leave room for the bucks to bed. If you have five food plots on 100 acres spread evenly, the mature bucks just don’t have room to get away from the does (once enough show up) and be the solitary creature they like to be until it’s time to breed. They will likely mingle with them early, but find bedding away from them when they lose their velvet. These bucks will be cruising through when it is time to breed so there is hope. You can shoot the does, but others will fill back in eventually.