Deer management

[doc henderson]

He knows a lot of landowners and trades work for the lease.  He runs it like it is his own land and keep s the lease as long as he is able.  He finds the best landowners, so they do not overextend the area.  so, he feels like the deer are under his management.  He may follow a buck from birth to 6 years, if someone else does not take them out.  He has tons of game camera pics and will look to see who is coming in and at about what time.  He does not hunt in morning so as to not educate the deer.  many of the sheds are from working fields and or walking to find them.  He also does ice fishing, goose and duck hunting, as well as trapping.  He is a maniac.  grew up in North Dakota.

[Walnut Beast]

Very cool to hear Doc!

Remember guys just because you don't have any pictures on your cameras doesn't mean the one you're  keeping track of  or haven't seen isn't out there. Talking to a friend of mine tonight that only takes 180 inch + deer has 56 cell cameras out on 17 different farm's between him and another guy and you could count on one hand the pictures of big ones they have had lately. But they have seen them and know they are around. The big guys can become elusive.

[SwampDonkey]

Best thing I can do right now is open up the woods some with thinning to get new growth. Areas that aren't thinned have nothing for a deer to eat, like parkland. Actually, it was thinned, but time passes and canopy closes in again and little stuff withers and dies. Not many deer here, might get 3 or 4 tromping these old farms. Never was many here in this area. Other areas in other watersheds, used to have deer in groups of 50 or more, deer trails around lakes and rivers. The best wintering ground up here is predominately softwoods with openings and young maple, aspen and birch coming in the holes, plus old man's beard moss on windfalls. Biggest trouble is there is a lot of bears and coyotes around. :D The place is all tramped up with bear tracks this fall. Don't leave nothing out there for very long that you'd like to keep. :D

[Walnut Beast]

Made and freshened up a few mineral licks and put a few nutritional blocks out. The feeders and water tanks are getting hit hard but plenty of up and comers have been staying around. Here are a few from a few different locations.

 

 

 

 

[SwampDonkey]

The bears around here would love you. :D

[Ron Scott]

Well fed!

[Peter Drouin]

Im feeding now too with snow on the ground.


 


Old pixs, My feeder is not as nice as yours But works.

[Walnut Beast]

Looks pretty good to me Peter! Topping off the feeders and two water tanks yesterday. 170 gallons added to the one and 70 in another. Changed over to a special 17% protein deer pellets that are fairly unique with vasodilators, and many other benefits then switch to the 22% spring and summer blend along with some various food plots. This little guy in the picture treated me like another animal around the feeder and wanted to be buddies. 

 

[Old Greenhorn]

You know, Viagra is a vasodilator also. Wondering what the goal is there? :D ;D

[gspren]

 Earlier this month I went on a deer management hunt in Delaware with Patriot Hunts, I'll try to give the details. First off this was my first experience with Patriot Hunts a group that takes Veterans, LEOs, Firemen, Etc that are older or handicaped on outdoor adventures, they were great. We met at the property owners at 4:45 on the morning of the hunt for a talk from the prop owner and his son. This was an antlerless only hunt and he said try not to shoot little spikes or button bucks. Property is managed for quality bucks and they allow Patriot Hunts to bring in some hunters each year to thin the does, there were 8 of us older veterans. We were asked if we could climb a ladder to get in the stands otherwise they had spots for ground level hunting, I can still climb a ladder but slowly. They also mentioned that we would be hunting over food plots that were best in late afternoon so don't get discouraged in the AM. First thing in the morning I saw 2 small bucks, a bit later 3 does came out but all looked small so I didn't shoot. At a bit after 10:00 they picked us up and we went to another property with a hunting club that made us lunch and a long break for story telling then back to the stands by 2:00 for the afternoon hunt. Around 3:15 three does came into my food plot and after a few minutes I got a clear shot at the biggest one. They only had to go 20' to hit the edge where there was 8' tall grass of some sort so I didn't see her go down and the owner said stay in your blind after you shoot so I did. While waiting on the owners son and a guy from PH to show up I saw 2 more bucks and 6 more does but one deer was all I wanted and thats sort of what the owner prefered. When the guys showed up after dark I told them where she was standing and they quickly found the blood and took off faster than I can walk on uneven ground so I went back to the SxS buggy and waited while they tracked and drug my deer out. Mine and the other deer were taken back to the hunting club where we had lunch and their guys hung them up and gutted them and mine was put on the rack on the back of my SUV, I never touched her until strapping her down  8) I'll add more details if anyone wants.