sex ratio

Bucks Are More Visible When Deer Hunters Harvest Does

Nov 9, 2022 Ben Westfall

“If you shoot a bunch of does, you won’t see any bucks!” I have heard this phrase and its variations time and time again over my years as a deer hunter, land manager and biologist….

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Is Late Rutting Activity an Indicator of Problems?

Dec 12, 2014 Kip Adams

I have been asked many times about rutting activity during December and January – what some hunters call a “second rut” – and whether this signals a problem. Rubs, scrapes and chasing behavior during December and…

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The Reality of Doe:Buck Ratios

Apr 23, 2013 Kip Adams

Deer sex ratios are a common topic of conversation among whitetail hunters. Other than deer density, few subjects ignite controversy as quickly as a discussion of the number of does per buck in any given…

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5 Reasons to Take Does Early

Aug 15, 2012 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

When the density of deer where you hunt exceeds the ability of the habitat to support those deer in healthy condition, it’s time to take an appropriate number of does to bring balance (and balance…

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How to Run a Trail-Camera Survey

Apr 19, 2012 Lindsay Thomas Jr.

A trail-camera survey – put simply – is the most powerful deer herd monitoring tool you can use that doesn’t require the assistance of a professional wildlife biologist. On your own, you can estimate deer…

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