Originally Posted by
Gun Nut
The ratio of Buck to Does depends on what particular management model is being employ in an area. There are a couple of models practiced the one is "Early Harvest," the other is "Late Harvest. In the case of the Early Harvest the ratio of Buck to Doe is 1:2, while the Late Harvest usually provides for a Buck to Doe ratio of 1:1. The Early Harvest system tends to provide a large number of younger animals, and increases the success of hunting opportunities, while the Late Harvest system focuses on maintaining fewer more mature animals, for those into trophy hunting. The Early Harvest system is predicated on keeping a high level of Does in the over winter breeding herd, which means regulating the number of antler-less deer that can be taken during the fall hunt. In the northeast Ontario the Early Harvest system went into a state of collapse a few years back owing to a winter die off, which fed the expansion of coyote numbers, as a result the system has had a slow recovery.
You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut