Buck , Doe Ratio

[JUDGE]

I was wondering what the ratio of Buck and Does would be in Ontario.
I can find how many deer are in every province and state, along with how many are harvested , but no where can I find and approximate ratio of Bucks and Does.
What Ratio would you put on this subject.

[MikePal]

Due to the randomness of procreation...50/50 would be a good guess.

..but as a rabbit breeder, I don't very often get that close a mix

[werner.reiche]

Due to the randomness of procreation...50/50 would be a good guess.

..but as a rabbit breeder, I don't very often get that close a mix

From JJ Ozoga:
...doe fawns wen bread a 7-9 monts bore 62.5% fawns, yearling does produced 52.6% fawns; prime does 50.2% fawns, old does 53.6 does. Stressed does produced few fawns, more males. Healthy does produced more fawns with more females.

But birth rates would have little to do with buck:doe rates. Harvest would have a lot to do with it. From my trail cams, its pretty close to 1:1. This year, it looks like I've had 2 does and 3 bucks. From what we usually see up on crown land, 1:1 would be a good guess there as well.

[dutchhunter]

We have a group of 7 does and fawns that have been using one end if the farm and another doe and two fawns in the middle. On the south side we have two does one with twins and one single. We see two bucks around all summer but this time of year you can see any buck that lives with in a few miles of are place.so threw the year there's one buck for ever 5 does .but this time if year you never know .Thy keep coming and the big ones chase the small ones away ...Dutch

[Gun Nut]

I was wondering what the ratio of Buck and Does would be in Ontario.
I can find how many deer are in every province and state, along with how many are harvested , but no where can I find and approximate ratio of Bucks and Does.
What Ratio would you put on this subject.

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

[klums]

Well this season has been odd for me so far, I've only seen one doe and all the rest have been bucks, mostly young bucks.

[ginochipchip]

i havent seen any does yet
doe taste better anyways

[johny]

Totally depends where you are.
I'm guessing in the Northwest where I live, it is close to 50/50. Loads of deer, moderate hunting pressure but lots of doe tags. End result is a fairly balanced population even in Division 10.

From my travels and observation in Eastern Ontario and speaking with family who live there, I'd say does and fawns dominate the population. Ratio-- I can't say accurately but I would guess 4:1 does:bucks. Anyone living around Kingston/Lanark/Ottawa can chime in with their observations.

[bigtedd]

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

Very well put. Management is likely the biggest contributing factor to the ratio. But totally depends on the area. Another thing to think about is what time of year it is. Pre-hunt and post-hunt will have different ratios for sure.

But when all is said and done, after the hunt and depending on how many fawns make it through the first 6 months or so, my guess would be the ratio is close to 3:1

Theres no better way to conduct your own survey than to set out some cameras