Southeastern hunters

[CHGray]

How much pressure do you put on your property out of season and then once the season starts?

I’m in a debate with our lease about why we aren’t seeing mature bucks on the property in the black belt region of AL. It’s an area known for nice AL bucks. Plenty of does and lots of nice young bucks on the property (1200 acres). After they get to about 3 1/2 years old they vanish. We don’t get them on camera in bachelor groups or alone, and we have A LOT of cameras out. Between predators and hogs, and SxS running all over the place to check cameras and feed I think the older bucks are leaving for less pressured areas.

Thoughts?

 

[rtaylor]

They might be heading for areas with less pressure or if there is an abundance of does they might not have to do much chasing. Have y'all thought about a sanctuary where no one is allowed to go? Also, it might be a good time to do a doe round up and get the ratio closer to 1:1 or even 2:1 in the buck's favor. Not sure what your cell coverage looks like but having cell cameras throughout the property that can be viewed by the entire club would cut down on alot of the side by side disturbance.

 

[sahunter06]

I’m next door to you in Ga. High doe population can hurt the herd balance and have an effect like @rtaylor mentioned. Pressure plays a big factor. Habitat is even more important. Do you hunt every food plot or are there plots that are off limits?
You have a large tract of land, how much of it is huntable as well?
As bucks age their territory expands.
Many factors go into your question. There are lots of good resources to read and biologists to ask about managing whitetails.

 

[FLATHEAD]

How many people on this lease?
Often, leases get hammered more than some public land.

 

[Jfish]

No expert here but after several successful QDM projects Pressure is your worst enemy. Too many does? didn’t seem to make a difference with us. Pressure on the other hand did it every time. Assuming your habitat is good, plenty of food and cover. That there are a good number of bucks living in the area from year to year, and genetics? If all that is good Pressure is most likely your biggest issue. Everyone (including me) thinks they are the stealthiest hunter in the woods. Mature bucks know you were there. The best day to hunt a stand for a mature buck is the first sit. Our experience consistently proved that if you jumped him or got burnt on the stand you rarely if ever saw him there again.
Quick example:
These guys ( actually not old bucks) were showing up both day and night for weeks.



Then hunters/scouters show up 1 week prior to bow season. Three times over several days 1-2 guys pass thru. Place goes dead. Sure about half the does continued to show up mostly early/ late. What bucks did visit were night or first light. The taller guy in last pic never appeared on cam again.
for what its worth?

 

[MallardSX2]

3 biggest factors

1. Checking trail cameras
2. Over hunting property
3. Riding 4 wheelers on property
4. Shooting immature deer and not letting them grow.
5. Booming up the woods shooting does.


All of these will cost you big bucks in a bad way.

All of these will increase your neighbors harvest rates and limit yours.

Electric vehicles and cuddeback j-link are your friend.

 

[Long Cut]

Habitat is king.
These Pine timber leases offer garbage habitat in between harvests. A fresh clear cut and 40-70 basal acre pines (Savanna type) with thick underbrush growth offer the best habitat for mature bucks.

Pressure is also huge. If there’s guys driving all over this place, those bucks will move to greener pastures.

Also with our 3-4 month long rifle seasons, most of the quality 2-3 year old bucks get killed. So the genetically superior bucks get killed and the lesser bucks are allowed to reach maturity.

 

[Jfish]

3 biggest factors

1. Checking trail cameras
2. Over hunting property
3. Riding 4 wheelers on property
4. Shooting immature deer and not letting them grow.
5. Booming up the woods shooting does.


All of these will cost you big bucks in a bad way.

All of these will increase your neighbors harvest rates and limit yours.

Electric vehicles and cuddeback j-link are your friend.

That about covers it! All Five points are spot on!

 

[MallardSX2]

Theresa are sooooo many leases that get RUINED by 4 wheelers in Georgia.


When we pull cards it’s on Sunday afternoon when the adjoining lease members are heading home for Atlanta (where they belong)….

Otherwise it’s cell cameras and cuddling j-links only. When people talk about hunting pressure they have never hunted where I have… I grew up in Pennsylvania…. So I know what hunting pressure is. Nothing compares to where I hunt in Georgia.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I haven’t found that checking cameras, riding 4-wheelers, or having alot of does to negatively affect my killing of mature bucks.

I bet there’s something else going on for you not to get pics of mature deer.

 

[Swamp Fox]

^^^ It depends on how you do it.

But I agree if you're having trouble with that class bucks but not others that there's something else going on, beyond pressure.

 

[FLATHEAD]

IMO, mature bucks are more sensitive to pressure.

 

[Swamp Fox]

No disagreement there.

But if very basic pressure problems as described are causing problems with 3.5s there is no reason they're not also causing problems with 2.5s.

That's my experience, anyway.

If you're seeing "enough" 2.5s, you should see a 3.5 once in a while.

But the more you can can reduce pressure, the more more you can expect to see the 3.5s, so you are fighting the good fight.

 

[N2TRKYS]

OP, what county are you in?

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

We have a similar size piece of property in Russell County. We don't have any mature bucks on camera this year, but they will show up once the rut kicks in. We have great habitat, ample food, and it doesn't get pressured too hard. 4 of us hunting 1000 acres. We've killed 2 does so far, unable to recover a 3rd.

Saw a good 3.5 yr old 8 point a week ago today. A similar sized 8 point showed up on my uncle's cell cam about 1/4 mile away that was busted up already, broken left beam, G3 broken at base. Probably 180 lb buck. I'd like to think that the buck that whipped his butt is bigger.

I believe that our issue is too many does, thus too many options for love. We are right near a 6500 acre SOA that is well managed, antler restrictions, etc. Neighbors in the last few years have killed some really nice ones, 22 inch spread 12 point a couple seasons go.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Pic for reference, maybe 170 lbs on the conservative side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CHGray]

OP, what county are you in?

Lowndes

 

[Rich M]

4 guys on 1,000 Acres? Thats not much pressure.

We hunted 5 guys on 500 and kept pressure down by limiting how many guys hunted at once. Most stands got hunted less than 4 times a year. 4-8 mature bucks taken yearly, other deer as well.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Lowndes

10-4. What’s the neighbors’ management/hunting style? It could be that the older bucks get shot.

Every place is different and you have to manage accordingly. Without a site visit, nobody is gonna be able to truly answer your question.

We quit shooting does about a decade ago. Best thing we ever did. We see a ton of deer now and the rut is better than it has ever been.

Good luck.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Nothing wrong with Lowndes co. as far as trophy potential goes.