Is it true a mature buck breeds two does a yr?

[Howard]

Was told this Sunday by a guy w large ranch in South Texas! I assumed he would breed a lot more than that- heck I have one bull on 40 cows and he keeps up and they are all calving within a month or two- But he has no competition

Or is this an average when lots of bucks are breeding on same ranch, etc?

Anyone know?

One more ?..... What is estimated deer per acre for hill country area property under protein, hf, management program, etc. Good brush- 50/50

[Reaper]

I imagine that there is no finite number on times a mature free ranging deer will breed. I would say the number is determined by the amount of does in estrus he finds. If the doe to buck ratio is high, he is going to get A LOT

[leasecommander]

I've read, don't remember where, that bucks can breed up to about 4-5 does per year, there have been some DNA studies that have shown that, you might want to check the literature.

[Bear82]

Good question. Everyone talks about the ratio for deer helps when its close. But is that for breeding purposes or is it so that you have more competition and get the deer moving so hunters can harvest them.

Is the ratio for herd management or hunting purposes?

[leasecommander]

Under hf and on demand protein, I would guess about 1 deer per 5 acres, but just a guess. There have been some studies that deer's diet that have unlimited protein, consume up to about 80 % of their diet from the protein feeders

[Archery1st]

Howard - There are studies that prove this to be true with a balanced deer herd and I know most deer breeders are selling straws from 3.5-4.5 year old bucks.

I also have never seen a mature buck 5.5 + breed a doe....I have seen several 3.5-4.5 yr olds breed.

My thought is by the age of 5.5-6.5 years old plus, bucks are so busy defending their rank and their "turf" - they seldom have the time or energy to play on it.

[kfd82]

Someone posted a study here a few weeks ago, it said they normally breed 1 or 2 a year. (on average)
it makes sense when you think about it. Bucks tend does for about 3 days, so if during the rut he tends and breeds for 3 days per doe....4 does per year would be on the high end. of course they may get one or 2 more during the post rut or if there is a 2nd rut for the ones that didnt get bred during the rut.

Horses and cows dont tend the females when breeding, they assume more of a hit it and quit it attitude, trying to move to as many as possible.

[Mike Murphey]

From talking to Biologist the majority of breeding is done by 3.4 to 4.5 bucks followed by 2.5 and 1.2 year olds....5.5 + old bucks breed less than the rest of the deer as they don't have the strength to keep up with the majority of the does.....I don't know the number of does that a 5.5+ buck would breed in a season but the majority of the breed does come from the younger bucks....

[mikemorvan]

There's a lot of science on this subject. What i propose has little to do with science and more to do with animal nature. I really believe deer behave a lot like people. Think about it. When we're young we all want all we can get. Young men, in their prime (equivalent to 3.5 - 4.5 year old deer) want all they can get, are willing to fight for it, and willing to travel to find it. The older a man gets, 5.5+ year old deer, they realize the payoff isn't what it once was, it's not worth fighting for, and sure ain't worth traveling for. So, the older bucks will take what's easy and available (one or two does per year), Other than that, they'd rather eat and take a nap. Just my observations on human and deer nature. Disect if you will...

[Coon]

I recently posted about a study I saw that showed where not only are bucks not covering many does but that after a buck breeds one doe and moves on, another buck might come and breed that doe behind him, siring the second fawn, where twin fawns from one doe actually have seperate sires. This study also showed that often, while 2 mature, more dominant bucks are fighting over a hot doe, a younger subordinate buck will be breeding the doe. This is about the same thing Archery1st is saying and many of us have seen first hand. There are many studies that disprove the longtime beliefs about whitetail deer.
Dave

[mhbaseball]

I would assume it is no more then 3-4 a year. Think about it...they are with each doe for say 2-3 days and then after they have to go look and find another one and then 2-3 more days. By that time the rut is over and I would assume after the main rut the big boys dont have alot of energy to look for a few stragglers at the end of the season/2nd rut

[Howard]

interesting...thanks...

any other thoughts or numbers on deer per acre as described above?

[lovemylegacy]

He'll breed as many as he can.

[Breezy]

Howard - There are studies that prove this to be true with a balanced deer herd and I know most deer breeders are selling straws from 3.5-4.5 year old bucks.

I also have never seen a mature buck 5.5 + breed a doe....I have seen several 3.5-4.5 yr olds breed.

My thought is by the age of 5.5-6.5 years old plus, bucks are so busy defending their rank and their "turf" - they seldom have the time or energy to play on it.

Yep this is true