Recovery Time after large Doe Harvest

[Hunter 257W]

I haven't posted in a while but am still kicking around and hunting deer. I have a question about doe harvests and the impact it has on population - especially the time to recover deer numbers. OK, the situation is that the farmer who owns land by mine and also farms my land, got a permit from TWRA to shoot does the Summer of 2023. Between the does shot in the Fall 2022 Hunting season and killed on his Summer 2023 permit, there were a total of 35 does shot. Total land area about 900 acres. This land is about 85% row crop and 15% woods or fencerows.

How many does should be taken yearly as a result of this large doe harvest? I still see quite a few does. As expected, buck sightings were noticeably increased last hunting season and I did get my two buck limit. I was hesitant to shoot a doe though and did not do so. How much will deer from the surrounding area migrate into this "vacuum" of sorts due to the big doe kill? How long would it take to get the population back up to what it was? Of course I don't want it to reach that point again or we'll be at risk of another crop damage induced slaughter.

 

[Tallredd]

Not sure where you're at but it depends on several factors. How many does you had left, what the successful fawning rate is, predation rate, etc. Carrying capacity also plays into it but I f you're not wanting the number to be as high as it was, consider an average of 1.5-1.8 fawns per mature doe increasing exponentially. 10 mature does could successfully produce 18 fawns with those numbers and you'd be where you want to be in 1-2 years depending on what age class you wanted. That is assuming you have an average to good year for food production.

 

[kentuckylakebuck1]

you will be fine if that farmer shoots depredation permits about every 3rd year, if he shoots every summer you will never have a population gain and it will continue to go down hill. the pressure alone will push deer away besides what being killed!

 

[Hunter 257W]

OK, I've been observing does in the area and am convinced it will be ok for me and my buddy to kill a doe or two without any problem. coyote sightings have gone down for some reason in recent years in spite of the high deer numbers, which should result in higher predators you'd think. Fawns all over the place. Plan to get the 1st adult doe I see in the morning given the chance.