Bully does Originally Posted by Chummer  Ok now this has my interest. I have less than 10 deer on three cams this year. Down a few from last year. One of these deer is the biggest doe I have ever seen. She rules the whole property. She has not had a fawn in at least the last two years. She rears up and kicks any deer she sees. She has my…

3 1/2 year old buck range Of course there are exceptions to everything, but I've definitely noticed a trend with what I'd consider the most cut and dried dominant bucks tending to have smaller home ranges, assuming great habitat exists for them to claim. [caption id="attachment_1317" align="alignright" width="960"] 3 1/2 year old buck range[/caption] In fact, on great habitat, with a good age structure, I've found that it's the 3.5s…

Only does bedding on my property Steve Bartylla I don't believe she moves in because he was shot. I believe she may be keeping bucks out (at least during spring and summer), but his death isn't likely going to get her to relocate, as she is likely already where she wants to be or it's another, more dominant matriarchal doe that's keeping her from claiming a better area, not him.…

Mock scrapes in food plots That does bring up another point. I personally don't believe that mock scrapes in food plots or rubs bring bucks out of their way to visit an area they wouldn't have otherwise went to. Sure, they go out of their way to visit the doe bedding area and work the scrapes there, but I believe it's the doe bedding area they're visiting, not the scrape.…

Member Jeff Olgren's question on doe numbers and bedding is our member question of the week- Jeff asks- "How do I run a balance between growing a doe herd to keep my bucks busy and having so many does my bucks have no place to bed?" Steve answers-  "Does are far more forgiving in bedding area selections than bucks. Where as mature bucks place a premium on selecting bedding locations…

How do I run a balance between growing a doe herd to keep my bucks busy and having so many does my bucks have no place to bed? Does are far more forgiving in bedding area selections than bucks. Where as mature bucks place a premium on selecting bedding locations that offer safety, assuming the property isn't being pressure hard, family groups are more interested in sacrificing supreme safety for…

A food plot screen A food plot screen are only new on a conscious level, as people have been using them forever, but have only now started planting and planning them.  A food plot screen are used for 3 main reasons, and they are as follows: Food plot entry and exit routes.  They hide us from a deers eyes as we move to and from our preferred stand locations.  A…

Deer dont eat brassicas   Is it true that some deer dont eat brassicas?  You read it in the forums and blogs, but before we assume the deer dont eat brassicas, lets take a peak a few mistakes that are often the root cause of deer not eating brassicas. [caption id="attachment_990" align="alignleft" width="300"] Managing land for deer means year round feed[/caption]   Deer dont eat brassicas because it is new…

Green fall food plots for deer [caption id="attachment_11" align="alignleft" width="300"] good fall food plots for deer[/caption] Good fall food plots for deer consist of either annuals like corn and beans planted in the spring, or annuals, perennials and bi-ennials planted late summer.  Today we will focus on a strategy for attracting bucks in the early bow season and until the first few hard frosts in areas where the deer feed…

Food plots failed So its midsummer and you decided to take a little drive and check out your bean and corn food plots [caption id="attachment_989" align="alignright" width="717"] Deer management[/caption] for deer.   You get there and what do you find?   Nothing the deer are going to be flocking to.  Its a bummer when your food plots failed, but you have options.  Today we are going to break down one…