What sets apart the most successful deer management programs from the rest? Following we will look at proven strategies and techniques that have helped deer hunting properties achieve top-notch status. From effective habitat and population management to attributes of the property itself. Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife manager or just starting out, my hope is to provide you with some valuable insights.
What does it take to consistently have great deer hunting on your property? Over years of providing wildlife and hunting guidance and helping clients attain desired results, I’ve learned that exceptional hunting doesn’t happen by accident. Consistently providing exceptional hunting experiences results from well-thought-out and executed management of the land, the critters, and hunting activities. The hunters who consistently have successful seasons and routinely harvest high-quality mature bucks are not “lucky.” Luck is simply where preparation and opportunity meet.
Much of my efforts have been focused on managing for mature trophy white-tailed deer. I have managed deer herds and hunting activities on properties that ranged from small tracts to large cooperatives across thousands of acres. I have also worked with very wealthy private landowners who spare no resources to maximize hunting opportunities. With 25-years of experience managing deer, I have gained an understanding of the key ingredients for successfully producing and harvesting mature trophy whitetails. I will attempt to share what I have found to be the most common ingredients to produce exceptional deer hunting and will lump these into three categories – the property, the deer herd, and the hunting itself. However, it’s worth noting that each property, deer herd, and situation presents unique challenges.
THE PROPERTY
Size & Shape
When it comes to managing a deer population and having increased opportunities for harvest, the size and shape of a property are crucial factors. In general, larger properties tend to be more advantageous. The most successful properties I’ve worked with have been between 2,000 and 5,000 acres in size. This size is optimal because it is big enough to contain deer within the core area of the property, allowing for better control of population dynamics such as deer density, sex ratio, age structure, and recruitment of bucks into older age classes. However, properties of this size are also small enough to consistently achieve annual harvest goals, and aggressively manage for quality habitat.
Camera surveys are an important piece of the puzzle. Effective mature buck management requires maintaining a balanced buck age structure. The goal is to ensure there is a high number of mature bucks available each year. This requires harvest guidelines that will recruit bucks to mature age classes. (Dave Edward)
Managing a deer herd through harvest requires time, effort, and dedication. Although it is certainly possible to intensively manage larger properties, I have found that properties exceeding 5,000 acres often struggle to achieve their annual harvest goals and sometimes fall behind on habitat management plans.
When it comes to deer hunting, the size of the property plays a significant role in the number of harvest opportunities available. A general rule of thumb for mature buck harvest rates is one trophy-quality buck per 600 to 1,000 acres. On smaller properties like 450 acres or less, the chances of harvesting mature trophy quality bucks are lower and may depend on the management of the surrounding properties. While many people consider the number of trophy bucks harvested as a measure of exceptional deer hunting, doe and management buck hunting can also provide numerous harvest opportunities.
Property ownership and boundaries are diverse in nature, and there is no perfect shape when it comes to recommending an ideal one. However, I have found that large blocks of contiguous land are more successful. Having boundaries far apart reduces the likelihood of many deer in the core of the property from using adjacent properties. Regardless of the size of your land, you will always share deer with neighbors.
I had a client who was losing many quality young bucks to his neighbors, who also did not harvest does. He had to put extra effort into doe harvest to maintain quality herd conditions. He began purchasing some of the properties around him. He made it clear that he didn’t want to own all of the land. He only wanted what was touching his! My point is that oddly shaped or long and narrow properties increase the number of deer shared with neighbors, often leading to frustration due to poor management across the fence.
Collecting information is one of the most important details in making your management dreams come true. By analyzing this information over time, trends in herd health and population status can be assessed to make sound decisions. A commonality with every successful property is that they do not guess, they know what is happening on their acreage.(Dave Edwards)
Neighbors
When it comes to successful deer management programs, good relationships with neighboring landowners or hunting clubs play a critical role. The properties that have seen the best success are those whose neighbors apply similar management strategies on their land and deer herd. For smaller properties, forming cooperatives with surrounding lands is even more critical and essential for consistent, excellent hunting. Additionally, natural barriers, such as deep water swamps, rivers, oxbows, or wide sloughs off a water body, can limit deer movement. Many successful properties have benefited from such natural barriers, leading to more control and better hunting opportunities.
Habitat
Deer are known as an edge species, meaning they thrive in areas where two or more habitats merge. These edge habitats provide deer with abundant food and cover resources. When it comes to deer management, properties with high habitat diversity and edge are more likely to produce healthy and flourishing deer populations. In my experience, properties that have a good mix of pine habitat along with diverse habitats tend to be the most successful.
One factor that has been consistently present in the most successful properties is the inclusion of some form of agriculture, especially during the summer season, either on the property itself or in close proximity. It is well known that high-quality crops like soybeans, peanuts, peas, alfalfa, and corn are incredibly beneficial for deer. A significant amount of acreage dedicated to these crops results in healthier deer that can produce more fawns and grow larger antlers. I suspect that the presence of agriculture also suggests that soil quality is good in the area, which certainly contributes to healthier whitetail populations.
When it comes to managing habitats for maximum success, having a significant amount of acreage of intensely managed food plots is valuable. A general rule of thumb is to devote around 10% of the total property to food plots, but the most successful properties often have 15 to 20% of their land aggressively managed in both annual (fall and summer) and perennial food plot crops. These plots come in varying sizes, with some large plots ranging from five-plus acres and a few smaller ones that are about one or two acres. In terms of hunting, mature buck harvest has been more successful on linear-shaped food plots that are adjacent to or passing through thick bedding and escape cover. Examples of linear-shaped food plots include hub and spoke designs, cinderos, roadside plots, and right of ways such as gas lines or powerlines.
Access
It is crucial to have good access when managing and hunting a property. The most successful deer programs have had good access throughout the entire property. All-weather roads enable equipment to access various parts of the property, which helps in managing the property effectively.
From a hunting perspective, a network of primary and secondary roads and firebreaks provides discreet access without disturbing deer. In addition, roadsides offer a relatively easy way to enhance the deer value of a property. Managed roadsides have been a common strategy among the most successful properties. By simply widening the shoulders of roads, it is possible to create significant additional acreage of natural browse for deer across the landscape.
Food plots vary widely amongst the most successful properties, with different sizes, shapes, soils and plantings. In terms of hunting, mature buck harvest seems to be more successful on linear-shaped food plots that are adjacent to or passing through thick bedding and escape cover.(Dave Edwards)
DEER MANAGEMENT
Decision Making
Having a successful hunting program where you are consistently harvesting mature bucks is not the same as just killing a big buck every now and then. To achieve consistent great hunting, management decisions are made based on data collected from the deer herd over the past few years. The most successful programs are always seeking to gather information about the deer herd. They record biological data from harvested deer, record hunting observations, and conduct population camera surveys each year, while monitoring the herd through random trail cameras throughout the year. By analyzing this information over time, trends in herd health and population status can be assessed to make sound harvest decisions. My point is that the most successful programs do not guess; they know.
It is essential for a deer management program to have decision-makers who share the same goals. When everyone involved in managing a deer hunting property understands and agrees upon the program’s goal and makes decisions that align with it, the program is more likely to succeed. However, I have also seen success on leased hunting clubs with many members as long as everyone is on the same page, and the leaders take action to replace those who do not share the same goals.
Harvest Guidelines
Effective trophy-quality mature buck management requires maintaining a balanced buck age structure. The goal is to ensure there is a high number of mature bucks available each year. This requires harvest guidelines that will recruit bucks to mature age classes. Location, quality of soils/habitat, and buck harvest goals all influence the guidelines.
Age-based harvest guidelines have proven to be the most successful strategy for recruiting bucks to desired age classes. Hunters who learn to age bucks based on body characteristics are more likely to make better harvest decisions. A dedication to learning these skills shows a commitment to the program’s success. However, the most successful properties I have worked with did not need buck harvest guidelines because everyone hunting the property shared the same goals and understood the skills required to make good harvest decisions. These hunters are also not solely driven by the kill, but rather by the management and journey. Many of my clients enjoy the challenge of the hunt and the experience of encountering a mature buck as much as harvesting one, especially one they have watched grow up under their management.
Herd Management
Maintaining a healthy and vigorous deer population that offers great hunting while also providing opportunities to harvest mature trophy bucks can be a challenging task. Achieving this requires finding a balance between a low deer population with abundant resources and a population that exceeds the threshold, resulting in high competition and reduced health. While a low population is healthier for the deer, it may not satisfy the desire of hunters who wish to see many deer. Conversely, high deer populations can compromise the health of the herd by increasing competition for resources.
Therefore, finding the right balance is critical to maintaining healthy animals and satisfying the needs of hunters. This involves a combination of analysis of data and informed management decisions based on that data. Successful deer management properties typically rely on experienced professional biologists to determine the ideal deer density to target based on available data about the herd and hunting, along with the quality of the property’s habitat. These properties also tend to have a higher targeted deer density than an average property due to their aggressive food plot and habitat management strategies. The increased food and cover allows them to offer better hunting experiences (relatively high numbers of deer observed while hunting) and more opportunities to see and harvest mature bucks.
Balancing the adult sex ratio is another critical ingredient for the most successful deer hunting properties. It not only benefits the herd health, but also results in breeding competition that forces mature bucks to seek and breed does during daylight hours making them more vulnerable to being seen by hunters. A balanced sex ratio leads to a shorter, more intense breeding season, which reduces the energy demand associated with the rut. This is in contrast to unbalanced sex ratios, where bucks commonly seek and chase does for many months in order to get them all bred. As a result, a balanced sex ratio allows deer to return their focus to feeding for the rest of the fall/winter. This helps them recover from the rigors of the rut. As spring arrives, these deer are in excellent shape and can fully utilize the spring’s nutrient-rich new plant growth.
HUNTING
The most successful deer hunting properties actively manage deer stands, and much of this work is done immediately after the season ends rather than just before the hunting season starts. Existing stands are constantly being assessed, new locations are being found, and enhancement needs are being noted. By having numerous ambush locations, pressure is lower and hunting stays fresh. (Rob Kinney)
Managing hunting pressure is vital to maintaining high-quality hunting experiences throughout the season, even if the land and deer herd are well-managed. Deer are extremely cautious creatures with an innate ability to sense danger. Properly managing hunting pressure and “hunting smart” plays a critical role in the quality of hunting experienced on a property, particularly as the season progresses and as it relates to seeing mature bucks. There is truly a black-and-white difference in hunting quality between properties that manage pressure versus those that do not.
The best deer hunting properties I’ve worked with do everything in their power to hunt in a way that minimizes their disturbance of deer. By doing so, quality hunting exists throughout the season. Many hunters do not understand the impacts of hunting pressure on future deer movement and its accumulation over a season. Even when efforts are made to hunt without disturbing deer (e.g., scent management, approaching undetected), each hunt applies some amount of pressure which impacts deer.
One of the reasons many hunters do not recognize their hunts as “pressure” is that most of the “pressure” impacts deer they never see. Each encounter affects how and when deer move and the number of deer seen during future hunts. Deer quickly learn to avoid hunters by reducing daytime movement, sticking to thick cover, and avoiding areas where they had negative encounters. The most successful deer hunting properties intensively manage how, when, where and how often they hunt the property to minimize hunting pressure.
Manage the Amount of Hunting
Less hunting on a property means less hunting pressure. Even when efforts are made to manage hunting pressure, each hunt that takes place applies some amount of pressure. While managing hunting leases over the years, I can’t tell you how many times I was asked by someone picking up a new lease, “How many members do you think I need?”
My answer was always the same – “As few as you can afford!” The very best hunting I have experienced was on properties that were not consistently/routinely hunted throughout the season. Because hunting pressure was limited with “rests” between hunts, every hunt was like opening day. Deer moved during the day, entered food plots early, and did not always appear skittish or nervous. The reality is that most of us cannot afford to purchase a large deer hunting property or even pay annual fees for a large hunting lease just for ourselves. However, the take-home message is that every hunt applies pressure that will impact deer in some way, often affecting hunting experiences on other days.
Aggressive Stand Management
The most successful deer hunting properties actively manage deer stands, and much of this work is done immediately after the season ends rather than just before the hunting season starts. On these properties, existing stands are constantly being assessed, new stand locations are being found, and enhancement needs are being noted. By constantly moving stands each year, hunting locations stay fresh, reducing the ability of deer to hone in on stand locations and increasing hunting success.
Sometimes, a stand is simply in the perfect location and does not need to be moved, but there may still be ways to enhance hunting from the stand, such as adding a sneak trail to access the stand, tightening a squeaky seat, pruning a limb or two, or directing deer movement by laying a tree down.
Trail cameras are commonly used for conducting camera surveys to evaluate various population characteristics and make informed harvest decisions. But, they are equally valuable from a hunting perspective. Using cameras saves time and reduces hunting pressure, leading to more productive hunts and less disturbance on the property. (Mossy Oak)
Of course, being in the right place at the right time results in high-quality hunting experiences. The most successful deer hunting properties influence this by having an abundance of thoughtfully and strategically placed stands in high deer-use areas. Having many great stands across the property to choose from on any given day and wind direction allows hunters lots of options, which will help them reduce pressure in any one area or stand.
Use Trail Cameras to Scout
Trail cameras have become an extremely valuable tool for deer management and hunting. They are commonly used for conducting camera surveys to evaluate various population characteristics and make informed harvest decisions. But, they are equally valuable from a hunting perspective. Nowadays, almost every deer hunter owns at least one trail camera because they are powerful scouting tools. Using cameras saves time and reduces hunting pressure, leading to more productive hunts and less disturbance on the property. The images captured by trail cameras can also be used to make informed buck harvest decisions.
Apply low-impact strategies for Doe Harvest
The best deer hunting properties meet doe harvest goals each year. However, they do so while keeping hunting pressure and disturbance to a minimum around key stands/locations geared toward harvesting mature bucks. By this, I mean they understand the impacts and consequences of harvesting and blood trailing does in and around prime hunting stands or food plots. For example, instead of waiting until after the rut or during the last couple weeks of the season to harvest does, hunters on the most successful properties initiate doe harvest early and continue efforts throughout the season.
Conclusion
As someone who is passionate about their job, I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to assist landowners and hunters in creating and managing top-notch deer hunting properties. There is no shortcut to creating a truly exceptional deer hunting property. It requires a well-planned and executed management strategy and takes dedication, hard work, and a deep understanding of the property, the deer herd, and hunting activities. Factors such as the size and shape of the property, management on neighboring lands, the quality of the habitat, management of the deer herd, and how a property is hunted all play a critical role in consistently producing and harvesting mature trophy-quality whitetails.
