Deer

[john_bud]

Georgia's deer herd is an estimated one million head. Hunters kill about 350,000 per year, and there are probably 50,000 killed by cars. That is the minimum kill needed just to maintain the herd at around a million. The problem is that Atlanta and Florida hunters don't think they have had a good hunt unless they see 25 to 50 deer per weekend.

There are some good genetics in the Georgia herd, and if DNR would do something to thin the herd by about half, there would be a lot more trophy bucks and people could grow a garden. There is too much money to be made with things as they are, though, so I don't look for many changes. I think the limit is something like 12 does and two bucks now, but I think they need to require hunters to kill a couple of does before they are eligible to shoot a buck.

My nephew killed this one the day after Christmas in 2004 on a lease that adjoins our farm.

WI 2004 517000 deer harvested
2005 466000 deer
2006 503000 deer

I know that there are probably 10x the deer hit and not reported as are reported. I personally have hit deer with a Ford truck, chevy truck, and 1973 cougar convertible (06:00 and 75 mph), wife hit deer with her Ford 2x and with her Olds once. None of those were reported. We have motorcycle deaths every year from deer collisions. This fall, I counted more than 4 deer bodies per mile over a 10 mile stretch by the house. One side only.

Now we have 33 harvest zones that are "earn a buck" to help decrease the herd. I doubt it will help much. So far, the DNR has only increased the deer herd and made the problem worse. I know several hunters that won't hunt earn a buck zones and won't travel more than 50-60 miles. You tell me how that helps thin the herd? What will happen in 10 years when the older generation quits hunting? That will be scary.

We all complain, we all want to get the buck like your picture, but few will pass up a 6 pt to kill a doe. I shoot the does - killed 6 last year. Only harvested 4, coyotes got one and wolves the other. NOTE: walking into an area with a hungry wolf pack at dark tracking a dying deer is NOT FUN. In case you were wondering, the answer is "ok, you can have her". And a bow with one remaining arrow is not reassuring...


On topic. The only sure way to keep deer out is a tall electric fence. They will habituate to all sensory input other than pain. Even then, they will tolerate some pain for a prized flower or veggie ready to be picked.

jb

 

[patrick_g]

Coyote Urien I wouldn't want to be the guy who collects it!!!

I'm getting this mental image of row of coyotes strapped down being force watered with hoses down their throats and being fed food laced with diuretics. (There is another hose involved with each animal to collect the output.

Pat

 

[texasjohn]

Now, that's just plain coyote ugly!

 

[forgeblast]

I took a class where they showed us deer exclosures. (to keep them out).
We went to a field where they wanted to return it to a wooded area. They made about a 6' box or circle and put it down on the ground (it was made from about 3-4' chicken wire.) The deer will not jump into an area if they can see the fence on the other side. This worked great they had maple, oaks, etc all growing in the boxes they put out. Just reinforce the sides if one side comes loose they will eat it to the ground.
If you plan on putting a full fence around it 6' is the min height that i would use, i would go up to 8' just to be sure. I have seen them jump some increadable heights. In pa they are eating all of the hardwoods seedlings, and saving some beech and others they dont like. That really cuts down on your land value, when you should be managing for some quality hardwoods.
Here they are known as the "pa forest rat".