Does Your Hunting Property Have Too Many Deer? | DEER DIRT w/ Bill Winke S2 EP. 5

On this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke runs through different methods of determining deer density and deer density tradeoffs on your hunting property.
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[@MissouriDroneDeerRecovery]

Thanks for the kind words Bill. This is an amazing video packed with tons of great knowledge! I will be recommending that all my clients watch this video before and again after we fly to emphasize the importance of everything mentioned.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Jack.

[@scottschaeffer8920]

Good video Bill. Yes, we feel it’s easier to manage for plus side herd work than trying to knock it down. The deer will give you clues as well, average age of your doe harvest, fawn recruitment, and all the indicators you mentioned. You’ll be impressed with how much better your habitat is and how faster plant succession does what it supposed to do at the right deer densities. Quality not quantity!

[@bill-winke]

Amen, Scott. It is hard to get there if you have too many, but if you are starting from a low herd density, it is important not to let the numbers grow too fast. Ease up slowly on your target density.

[@keithbuesing6912]

Your neighbors could apply for depravation tags, if they qualify they can hand them out to neighbors and use them themselves. Cheaper than antlerless tags. I filled two tags for my neighbors last season.

[@bill-winke]

That is a good tip. Thanks Keith. Most of my neighbors have cattle or alfalfa so it is harder for them to see damage, but in most cases, this is a good option.

[@paulbernitt4280]

The train on the WI side of the Mississippi River near my property is about 2 miles away and I hear them all the time. I use the sound when possible to cover my walking noise in and out of the woods. I feel sorry for all the people who live in the communities they come through. Its a busy RR line on both sides of the River. The DNR tells us how many deer they want us to take based on the free tags that come with the buck tag in WI. I just cant justify taking 6 deer off my property per year per hunter, but my mind is slowly changing. I had a thermal drone fly my property this year. We have a great population of deer. I think this year is going to be a doe harvesting year based on the buck to doe ratio discovered.

[@bill-winke]

Paul, that drone survey is such good information. I do believe you have to engage the entire neighborhood to the best of your ability to see real change if the goal is dropping overall deer numbers. Yes, you can make some difference on your place (especially as relates to to buck to doe ratio, for sure, but to see a dramatic difference in overall numbers in two to three years, you will need help. Good information.

[@daveshsb]

Interesting video. My property is small so most deer are pass through. Large land holdings surround my 23 acres. I doubt we harvest enough does to control the numbers. Thanks for sharing!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks for the comment Dave and good luck.

[@user-el4iu1td9u]

Social carrying capacity (farmers, motorists, for example) is certainly a real thing and has to factor in. However, based on herd levels throughout the 2000s (best hunting decade ever most likely) compared to today, I firmly believe that 90-95% of the Midwest needs to INCREASE the # of deer not reduce them further. Clearly the habitat can sustain a significant increase in herd levels bc it did so for 10-12 years during that stretch. As I’ve always asked, I’m not sure by what metric the herd during those years were “stressed”? Huge bodied does, huge bodied bucks, the highest quantity of huge antlered bucks maybe ever. And yet 99% of what we read and listen to in the industry is kill more does, kill more does, kill more does. Near impossible to find a video or hunting article that suggests that the herd should be grown a little bit and doe harvest should be slightly reduced. Nothing but respect for you Mr Winke but this is one topic I just disagree w you on that’s all. Thanks!

[@bill-winke]

I think you have to be careful because the herd is always healthy when it is increasing, but after a decade of lots of deer, that is when the habitat starts to show the signs. I have seen it first hand on farms I have hunted and some I have owned. As the herd is climbing, everything is rosy, but after a number of years of high density, everything starts to change. Stress doesn't come right away, it takes time to decimate a habitat just as it takes time to grow it back. I agree, there are definitely areas that have too few deer, and that is why I said it is best to start with some kind of accurate survey and compare that to other metrics. In the end, I have learned the hard way, that I would rather err on the side of having too few deer than on the side of having too many. I was part owner of a farm from 1995-2004 that was way over-populated. It was a huge farm (we controlled 4,100 acres contiguous, a lot of it was timber with 600 acres of tillable ag). We didn't shoot very many deer (bucks or does) and I only saw one buck that would say was over 190 on that farm in that time. We never shot big deer. Then I bought land about 1 1/2 miles away (or a bit less) and that 125 acre piece had more top end deer than the entire 4,100. That's when I sold my stake in the 4,100 and started buying more near the new place. I saw it first hand. Those deer on the 4,100 acre farm were always hungry. So, I may be a bit biased. I would rather have too few than too many. But, that is just me. Good input.

[@ronbonofiglio7654]

I donate any extra deer to Hunters for The Hungry. The individuals who've asked for deer want me to process it for them first.

[@bill-winke]

That is too bad. The guys that will take them from me now are more than happy to get them processed. The Hunter's for the Hungry program is a good one though and worth supporting. Iowa has the HUSH program and I donated a few hundred does to participating lockers over the years! Good luck.