Tricks for Taking Does – Without Hurting Your Buck Hunting
A portion of this group simply believes more does have the potential to draw more bucks. They fear the disturbances associated with harvesting does will alert bucks to the fact they’re being hunted. As has been written many times, mature bucks are tough enough to harvest when they don’t know they’re being hunted. Once they do, they become exponentially more difficult.
Since keeping disturbances to a minimum are so vitally important to hunting success, does that mean we can’t risk harvesting does? Not in the least. However, one should do it in a manner that minimizes the risk of damaging our buck hunting. Luckily, this can be accomplished.
A Breed Apart
In order to do this, we must understand some basic differences between mature bucks and does. Luckily, outside of the rut, mature bucks place a higher premium on safety than family groups and are much more solitary animals. During the non-rutting phases of deer season, bucks have the strong tendency to form their own bedding and trail systems, which display the higher premium they place on personal safety. Assuming prime deer habitat is expansive enough, they often don’t interact with family groups much except at prime food sources. Even when it comes to food however, it’s not uncommon for bucks to either feed by themselves in remote corners or even select an inferior food source that provides increased safety.
This limited amount of information alone is very helpful. Simply because we know that family group trails typically endure more traffic, it’s easy to differentiate between them and a buck trail. The beaten-down cow paths through the mature sections of woods are not likely locations to meet Mr. Big, outside of the peak scraping, chase and breeding phases of season. When further investigation reveals a mixture of adult deer and fawn tracks, we can feel even more confident about this. On the flip side, bumping into a buck on the faint trail paralleling the thicket and adorned with a handful of rubs, is much more likely.
Still, common sense must be used. In areas where deer habitat is limited, mature bucks and family groups often must share the same trail systems. In that case, it’s either share or increase their exposure to danger.
Funnels are another obvious example. By definition, a funnel is a feature or combination of features that constrict deer movement through a relatively narrow area. In those conditions, bucks and does can be forced to share the same trail. As with most things, identifying doe trails also requires some common sense.
Along with does being more tolerant of human activity, they also have a matriarchal society that plays into the hunter’s favor. Doe groups, or clans, are typically comprised of fawns, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and so on.
The most mature, healthy clans tend to occupy the best habitat, with subordinate clans filling in around the fringes. These clans are not unlike gangs that defend their turf. When another clan feeds or beds within a more dominate clan’s comfort zone, they are commonly driven away. This is why one can often observe several different clans loosely grouped in separate areas of a large food source.
In habitats that have a surplus of does, the result is that some lesser clans are commonly pushed to areas that no self-respecting mature buck would step foot in outside of the breeding phase of season.
Formulating a Plan
From these whitetail behavioral traits, we can begin formulating strategies for harvesting does with minimal disturbances. First, because of the limited interactions between mature bucks and family groups outside of the rut, it only makes sense that early and late season is when hunters concerned about educating bucks harvest most of their does. Taking that simple approach alone can be a big help.
Next, hunters can focus their doe hunts toward areas that bucks find less desirable. Fringe areas closer to human activity and more open areas of otherwise dense timber are good starting points. With a quick foot-scout of the area, the sign will be a strong indicator as to whether it’s also frequented by mature bucks.
If the sign doesn’t indicate a bruiser is present, investing several late afternoons in observing the area is a good practice. This will not only further ensure that harvesting a doe won’t hurt the hunter but watching the family groups increases the odds of getting stand placement right the first time. Even when the right area is targeted, the fewer times a hunter must get in and out of that area, the less likely they are of tipping their hand to Mr. Big.
Using Food Plots to Harvest Does
It is also no secret that the best food plots for taking bucks contain highly desirable plantings, which are one-half to two-acres in size and surrounded by protective cover. However, the best food plot management systems should also take doe harvest into account. Because we understand the specific traits that bucks seek, we can use that information to supplement our food plot plan with plots designed for safely harvesting does.
For example, on a 500-acre farm, with a decent amount of timber, two or three buck-killing plots can be created along with one for does. The keys are positioning the doe plot away from known buck activity, making it larger in size and targeting areas that provide a slightly decreased illusion of safety.
Because of the competition for the smaller, more secluded buck plots, as well as does not wanting to be harassed by bucks, some doe clans will be pushed to the larger, more open doe plots. This is almost assured when a premium planting, such as Imperial Whitetail Clover, is offered in the plot.
Provided that the food plot management system was designed to allow low-impact entry and exit, we are almost home free. All that is left is to exclusively hunt stands when the wind is right and refrain from over-hunting the plot. With that, along with observations validating the lack of buck activity, we have a location that promotes safe doe harvests.
Removal
The last step in not harming the buck hunting is moving the harvested does to an area void of deer activity before gutting. One can easily argue whether fresh gut piles scare deer. What can’t be argued is that they draw canines and other natural predators.
In most areas of the whitetail’s range, coyotes are abundant. Deer get very nervous when a pack of dogs are running around. Once coyotes find a free meal at a specific location they keep coming back looking for seconds. That alone makes gutting deer in areas void of deer activity a solid strategy.
Coyotes aren’t the only issue. In some areas of the whitetail’s range, timber wolves, bears or large cats are common. Any one of those predators can have an impact on your deer hunting.
Obviously, for the image of hunting, we should also be mindful of where we field-dress our kills. With that in mind, look for locations away from prime deer habitat where the potential of drawing predators is not as harmful, and where the area won’t harm hunting’s image. Taking that simple step can be more important than one thinks.
Conclusion
Aside from the advantages of creating a habitat that provides bucks with a surplus of nutritious food, as well as one where bucks must compete harder for does, there are other compelling reasons to harvest does. For one, it provides an excellent source of practice. As much as we try to put bucks up on a pedestal, mature does are sometimes every bit as wily as a cagey old buck. If hunters can consistently beat the matriarch’s senses, they can feel confident when a bruiser decides to enter weapon’s range. Furthermore, doe meat makes great freezer filler.
There is added benefit by specifically targeting does with nubbin buck fawns. Several studies have revealed that the percentage of yearling bucks dispersing to distant properties is reduced when the doe is harvested. Since most readers of Whitetail News already provide their resident deer with superior nutrition, their property’s buck fawns are commonly more robust than average. Obviously, keeping them at home is beneficial to the property’s future hunting prospects.
Luckily, a savvy land manager can realize all of these benefits without harming their buck hunting. Through understanding the basic differences between the traits of mature bucks and does, creative food plot strategies and formulating sound hunting plans, ample does can be harvested in a way that does nothing but benefit buck hunting. With that knowledge at our disposal, it no longer makes sense not to skim the surplus does from our properties. Doing so only improves our buck hunting.