low fence genetics

[mrc]

I have been hunting a place in eastern Young county for 13 years now, it is 500 acres low fenced and was originally part of about 3000 acres. Before it was purchased it was a part of a larger lease with around 40 people hunting it. The first 5 years or so I never saw a forked antlered buck on the property, then we started seeing some young bucks fork horns and 6 points. We did not kill a deer on the property for probably 5 years and managed it as a sanctuary of sorts. 7 years ago I killed an 11 point and it was the first older(5yr) killed on the property. The next fall I killed an older 8 and the next year I killed a mature 10 that grossed 148 so I knew our management plan was working. Since then there ha been 1 ancient 10 killed and 4 mature 8 points killed off of the property. 2 years ago there was never a buck larger than an 8 seen or caught on camera the same for last year. This year is the same I have at least 5 different mature 8's and at least that many younger deer on the camera. What has happened to the genetics? We have been feeding protein for 3 years and planting food plots and trying to let these bucks get 5 yrs. before we shoot them. There is no hunting pressure for probably 3000 acres around us.

[systemnt]

Genetics might have been there all along... now you are letting them get older.

[Bone Thug]

Genetics might have been there all along... now you are letting them get older.

x2

[dustoffer]

Genetics might have been there all along... now you are letting them get older.

Yep--plus your feeding program---the only 2 out of 3 factors we can influence. Let 'em eat and let 'em grow.

[TTU TX Hunter]

I think the drought back in 2011 out that way caused a disruption in population and fawn crops which in turn would effect the amount of 6 year olds. We have not seen the amount of mature bucks this year and last year that we normally would have.

[Livin'2hunt]

Yes, the drought was hard on lots of animals in lots of counties. I've wondered what the long-term affect would be about now.

[mrc]

My question is though why is there nothing over an 8 point ? I am not about to start culling these 8's or anything like that, I really just figured there would be some younger 10's or something. I have figured out when they hit what I believe is 6 they start putting on a little extras.

[txwhitetail]

Shoot off all the top end deer leaving what is left ?

[S-3 Ranch]

Don't shoot any bucks for five more years then start culling
Age is your key ingredient

[DuramaxDude]

That's a little different I would have to say. Can't say I would have an idea of what the deal is. Do yall have really high deer numbers?? Have yall incorporated mineral sites and waterings along with your protein feeding? I wouldn't think that taking as many mature 8s as you could would be beneficial but the idea does come to mind. I worked on a place in college and we had a ton of 8pts those guys decided to really focus on management bucks. Their decision was if it was 3.5 yrs or older and it wasn't at least a 10pt or an 8pt of significant size it was to be shot. after a few years of that I noticed some significant differences in size and number of tines on the racks. We had waterings scattered across the place for cattle and fed year round.

[mrc]

Don't shoot any bucks for five more years then start culling
Age is your key ingredient

I understand age is key, and since I am basically the only one who hunts there and I only kill one mature ish buck a year, plus a spike the bucks are getting older every year. I am not trying to make this a trophy lease per say just a place to kill good deer and have fun. It just confuses me when you can go 10 miles down the road and see 2 1/2 year old 10 points that are 10" wide, and most of my 2 1/2 year olds are 8 pt. and stay that way.

[mrc]

That's a little different I would have to say. Can't say I would have an idea of what the deal is. Do yall have really high deer numbers?? Have yall incorporated mineral sites and waterings along with your protein feeding? I wouldn't think that taking as many mature 8s as you could would be beneficial but the idea does come to mind. I worked on a place in college and we had a ton of 8pts those guys decided to really focus on management bucks. Their decision was if it was 3.5 yrs or older and it wasn't at least a 10pt or an 8pt of significant size it was to be shot. after a few years of that I noticed some significant differences in size and number of tines on the racks. We had waterings scattered across the place for cattle and fed year round.

We have 500 acres and 6 tanks of which 3 hold water year around. No minerals yet, but I have been thinking about it. Basically what I am doing is killing an 8 every year that I think is 5 or older and letting the rest get some age. Our deer numbers have went up in the last couple of years I have atleast 8 different bucks and a lot of does, fawns and yearlings hitting the protein every day.

[mrc]

We have a good population and our young bucks start as 8's then get older and stay 8's.

[Livin'2hunt]

On a similar note, a place I was on for 3 years was rife with a big 6 pt gene. They were everywhere. The first year, I asked the landowner (whom did not believe in culling anything) if we could eliminate the mature, breeding age 6s. He all but threw a tantrum as he shot down my suggestion. So, three years later, I would see a couple of immature bucks over 8 points and the rest were inferior 5s, 6s, and 7s. I got off that stupid place.

[DuramaxDude]

We have 500 acres and 6 tanks of which 3 hold water year around. No minerals yet, but I have been thinking about it. Basically what I am doing is killing an 8 every year that I think is 5 or older and letting the rest get some age. Our deer numbers have went up in the last couple of years I have atleast 8 different bucks and a lot of does, fawns and yearlings hitting the protein every day.

That's probably plenty of water I would think but I have heard a lot of people quote "a water source and a mineral site every 80-100 acres" I doubt that's a bad ratio but affordable and do able is the question. I have started using chemical totes (300 gallons) to make waterings with. Call me lazy unethical or what have you but I shoot for putting mineral sites, waterings, and my feeders in the same spot and close enough proximity 1 game camera covers it lol

I used to date a girl that was from young county and her family that owned land and hunted it around there. The biggest buck any of them had every shot was a 140ish 8 or 9 point I cant remember which.