How many does should you harvest?

From what I've been seeing on my food plot, I have about 7 does, which is nice, but I have too many bucks for 7 does. I have more bucks than does.

I read once that a 1:4 ratio was good, so I need a bunch more does. I'll let the grandson take one if he wants, but I'm not shooting any of my precious buck baits.

I need several for donations, so I'll try to get some on my handicap and draw hunts. I already have people calling me who got my number off the DNR website.

I like to get 2 doe and one buck each season.

For years, my brother and I have taken a doe and a buck and he has 100 acres. If I look back, the population has be steady. Of course, 2012 EHD change that and I think this year the numbers are back. Last year my brother took a doe and buck and I only took a buck. Our EHD self applied restrictions are off this year.

Have not shot a doe since the EHD outbreak, doubt I will shoot one again this year on my property. Still not seeing that many but they are definitely on the rebound.

May go to Dearborn Co. to help with the TB outbreak. If they don't get the required amount of deer, the sharpshooters will come in to get sufficient numbers.

I was going to read the article, but I'm on Facebook. There's plenty of people there to tell me how many deer I should shoot.

(Brookville, Ind.) – The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife has scheduled two public meetings to discuss a management and surveillance plan in response to the recent finding of bovine tuberculosis in a wild white-tailed deer.


Bovine Tuberculosis Q&A

Q. What is bovine tuberculosis (TB)?

A. Bovine TB is a contagious, chronic bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The infection commonly involves the lungs, but it may spread to other organs. Animals often don’t show signs until the infection has reached an advanced stage.



Q. What animals can it affect?

A. Bovine TB primarily affects cattle, but it can be transmitted to any warmblooded animal, including people. Q. What are the symptoms of bovine TB? A. Bovine TB is difficult to diagnose with clinical signs alone. In the early stages of TB, clinical signs are not visible. In later stages, clinical signs may include: emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever, and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Lymph nodes may also be enlarged.



Q. What should I do if my animals show these symptoms?

A. If you suspect TB in your herd, you should isolate the animal immediately and then call your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.

Source: Indiana Board of Animal Health


The first meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Franklin County Government Center, 1010 Franklin Ave., Brookville, IN, 47012.

The second meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds, 351 East Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg, IN, 47025.

DNR deer biologist Joe Caudell will outline the plan for deer hunting season that establishes a management zone in part of Fayette County and all of Franklin County, and a surveillance zone in part of Dearborn County.

Hunter-harvested deer in those zones will be subject to periods of mandatory and voluntary submission to biological check stations so they can be tested for bovine tuberculosis.

The Indiana State Department of Health will provide information on human health concerns at the meeting, and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) will share information about domestic animals.

In April, BOAH identified bovine tuberculosis (bTB) at a Franklin County cattle farm. The infected cattle herd was depopulated, and BOAH partnered with the DNR and USDA Wildlife and Veterinary Services to test free-ranging wildlife on the cattle farm. A 2-year-old doe that was culled in August as part of the surveillance effort was diagnosed with bTB, marking the first time the disease has been found in a wild animal in Indiana

I signed up for deer donation somewhere through the DNR; I think it was here: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7240.htm  (GiveIN).  I entered my email address and phone number for contact.  People who are interested in meat will call me.  I try to process the meat for them as charity.   I had 10 people call me last year.   There are a lot of hungry people out there.

The goal this year is a minimum of 5 deer total. 2 for relatives in Wi, the landowner that lets me hunt his 3200 acre farm, and 2 for me. Since I have an urban zone to hunt, and will be hunting one of the park hunts, the number of bucks/does is yet to be determined. I need to shoot at least 2 deer by the first week of November.