Would i be over hunting?

[TrapperJ]

Hey folks so since deer season is a month away I figured I would ask a question thats been on my mind for a little while and it might be a completely stupid question but. I've got permission to hunt some of the land next to my 10 acres that I shot my first buck and doe off of and the land next to me is 10 acres plus a few random 6 acres so I have about 26 acres now but I was wondering. Would I be over hunting it if I shot 2 does in the Oct doe season and then a buck in the November one and then maybe one doe in the December season or one in the muzzleloader season? Would i be over hunting my small place or would it be fine?

 

[Sheltowee]

You'd be fine. 26 acres isn't going to hold its own population, so I would view that chunk as just a portion of a series of overlapping ranges.

You are going to see fewer deer if you pound the hell out of it and hunt it 7 days a week for three months but a weekend here or there isn't going to hurt anything. You might try to find some public land to hunt on occasion if you're really worried about giving your tract a breather now and then.

 

[SaskHunter]

Depends on quite a few things. Where are you hunting? How are deer numbers in the area? Hunting pressure? How spread out are those plots.

But 4 deer for one guy in 26 acres can be a lot. I also know some places where 4 deer in 26 acres wouldn't put a dent in the herd either. Chances are those deer aren't stuck on that 26 acres either and there can be lots around.

You do you, boo!

 

[pabearhunter]

I think a lot would depend on SURROUNDING acres. Do you see large numbers of deer in a 8 hour sit?

 

[TrapperJ]

Depends on quite a few things. Where are you hunting? How are deer numbers in the area? Hunting pressure? How spread out are those plots.

But 4 deer for one guy in 26 acres can be a lot. I also know some places where 4 deer in 26 acres wouldn't put a dent in the herd either. Chances are those deer aren't stuck on that 26 acres either and there can be lots around.

You do you, boo!

Uh well we have alot alot alot of does. There was one point where I counted about 40 in a field and then buck wise we do have a lower population of them

Hunting pressure wise might be somewhat low i mean it aint hunted much and there's just some cows on it from time to time

I did kinda think 4 deer was a bit much but if you split it from oct to January then it dont seem like alot and I think we have a fair amount of deer. Also I think we have some hogs so would it put pressure shooting one of those?

 

[TrapperJ]

I think a lot would depend on SURROUNDING acres. Do you see large numbers of deer in a 8 hour sit?

Not really which its just some thick woods so I cant see all well in it but the new 10 acres is a holler and a draw and a few little fields

 

[Applejames16]

Hey folks so since deer season is a month away I figured I would ask a question thats been on my mind for a little while and it might be a completely stupid question but. I've got permission to hunt some of the land next to my 10 acres that I shot my first buck and doe off of and the land next to me is 10 acres plus a few random 6 acres so I have about 26 acres now but I was wondering. Would I be over hunting it if I shot 2 does in the Oct doe season and then a buck in the November one and then maybe one doe in the December season or one in the muzzleloader season? Would i be over hunting my small place or would it be fine?

d

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

Hey folks so since deer season is a month away I figured I would ask a question thats been on my mind for a little while and it might be a completely stupid question but. I've got permission to hunt some of the land next to my 10 acres that I shot my first buck and doe off of and the land next to me is 10 acres plus a few random 6 acres so I have about 26 acres now but I was wondering. Would I be over hunting it if I shot 2 does in the Oct doe season and then a buck in the November one and then maybe one doe in the December season or one in the muzzleloader season? Would i be over hunting my small place or would it be fine?

You'll be completely fine.

 

[six7]

Unless all the land surrounding your 26 acres is desert, you should be fine. I hope you get the 4 deer you are looking to get. Our goal is 8 to 10 deer a year, momma don't buy hamburger at the store.

 

[TrapperJ]

You'll be completely fine.

Thanks I figured i would be i just didnt wanna mess something up so I figured I would ask

 

[TrapperJ]

Unless all the land surrounding your 26 acres is desert, you should be fine. I hope you get the 4 deer you are looking to get. Our goal is 8 to 10 deer a year, momma don't buy hamburger at the store.

Thanks it means alot I hope I can get them to. Yeah no my property has fields at the front and back and right side and the left is nothing but woods for miles and forest service land. 8 to 10 deer a year? Wow thats alot lol and yeah that hamburger at the store is expensive

 

[Elktrack]

Killing Two does and one buck…Hell yes! It’s good practice for when you come out west someday and hunt MT.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

Seriously though, I wouldn’t worry about over hunting by taking couple does out based on what you’re describing. Get after it!

 

[seeth07]

I think your decision and actions here really depend on what your expectations are for hunting this location in the future. If you were a serious hunter in regards to the population and sustaining a high quality herd (buck to doe ratio and maturity) your current action should be gathering up all of the neighbors that likely share the same herd of deer and coming to agreements on what an appropriate harvest is. Hiring a biologist even to help determine what the year harvest should look like especially this day in age where they can come out with a thermal drone and effectively count the entire herd in near perfect accuracy.

 

[shb]

Don't shoot the lead matriarch.

 

[antlerradar]

I think I would worry more about the amount of time I spent on the 26 acres than I would the number of deer.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm with the others, i'd be most concerned with the pressure/human intrusion put on the property and how that would impact mature buck's use of it.

If everyone was taking 3 does off of 26 acres it'd be too much but most aren't.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I think your decision and actions here really depend on what your expectations are for hunting this location in the future. If you were a serious hunter in regards to the population and sustaining a high quality herd (buck to doe ratio and maturity) your current action should be gathering up all of the neighbors that likely share the same herd of deer and coming to agreements on what an appropriate harvest is. Hiring a biologist even to help determine what the year harvest should look like especially this day in age where they can come out with a thermal drone and effectively count the entire herd in near perfect accuracy.

Sure be nice to have neighbors that would entertain such a thing. Seems pretty rare..

 

[TrapperJ]

Killing Two does and one buck…Hell yes! It’s good practice for when you come out west someday and hunt MT.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

Seriously though, I wouldn’t worry about over hunting by taking couple does out based on what you’re describing. Get after it!

Heck yeah thanks I cant wait to get out there and get my boots on the ground and do some hunting and heck I would be down for a western hunt matter of fact I wanna come out to western Oklahoma around cimarron county and do some hunting

 

[TrapperJ]

I'm with the others, i'd be most concerned with the pressure/human intrusion put on the property and how that would impact mature buck's use of it.

If everyone was taking 3 does off of 26 acres it'd be too much but most aren't.

Oh yeah I aint on it much other then here this fall about September I might come in and cut a few dead trees down for firewood and I also plan maybe around first of October to just scout the place and then around shedding season I walk through and thats it

 

[TrapperJ]

Don't shoot the lead matriarch.

Ill try not to lol