How Many Antlerless Deer Should I Harvest?

By: Kip Adams
Harvesting the correct number of antlerless deer is one of the most important aspects of QDM. Harvest too few antlerless deer and the herd will negatively impact the habitat, the deer themselves and other wildlife species. Harvest too many antlerless deer and the herd will drop below the carrying capacity of the habitat while you unnecessarily remove animals that could provide viewing and harvesting opportunities.A target antlerless harvest depends on many variables, including deer density, doe age structure, habitat quality, property size, neighboring management practices, adult sex ratio, fawn recruitment rate, seasonal conditions such as extreme winter weather or summer drought, and your deer management goals. This is not a complete list, but it covers the major factors. At first glance it may seem overwhelming, but each piece of data is obtainable. Each item is analogous to a piece of a jigsaw puzzle – the more pieces you have, the clearer the picture. In this case the picture is a deer population, and more pieces of information equate to better management decisions, such as determining the proper target antlerless harvest.

 The appropriate antlerless harvest rate varies by region. For example, the average property in Florida cannot withstand a comparable antlerless harvest to the average property in Illinois. The appropriate harvest ratealso varies within the state and even at the county level. For properties with comparable deer density goals, one with low-quality habitat will likely have a lower target harvest than a property with high-quality habitat, even if the properties are only a few miles apart. This point is obvious, but I state it to show there is not an “exact” harvest rate that can be applied to a specific location or region.

 Fortunately, we can calculate a target antlerless harvest. We can also use ballpark harvest rates to establish an initial target harvest in the absence of survey data. Then, the key is to collect enough harvest and/or observation data to refine the target antlerless harvest in future years.

 Calculating a Target Doe Harvest

Population models used by many state wildlife agencies across the whitetail’s range suggest a harvest of 20 to 30 percent of the does in a given population will stabilize the herd. For clarity, this percentage includes doe fawns and adult does but not buck fawns. It is important to recognize that many of these models were created over the past few decades during periods of rapid whitetail population growth and expansion. During this period, fawn recruitment was high due to abundant habitat and low predator densities. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that an increasing number of predators such as coyotes, bobcats and black bears, in combination with an increasing number of deer-vehicle accidents and a general trend toward reducing deer populations, is impacting deer populations more than previously believed. Therefore, more conservative doe harvests may be justified in areas with low habitat quality and high predator densities.

 If your goal is to increase the deer herd, harvest fewer than 20 to 30 percent of the does. If your goal is to decrease the herd, harvest more than this percentage. You can easily calculate this number if you have an estimate of the number of does on the property. Many landowners and managers conduct annual scouting-camera surveys to estimate the deer density. These surveys provide estimates of the number of adult bucks, adult does and fawns on a property. They also provide useful estimates of the adult buck:doe and fawn:doe ratios.

 If you do not have a deer-density estimate, there are some general harvest guidelines that can help determine your target antlerless harvest. It is important to recognize these are ballpark rates, and they do not replace a harvest rate calculated from survey data. However, they can be used to set an initial target harvest.

 Whether you’re in New England, the Southeast or somewhere in between, poor habitats obviously can’t feed or support as many deer as good habitats. Lower-density herds also provide lower target levels since there are fewer animals available for harvest. With that in mind, here are some ballpark figures selected to harvest 20 to 30 percent of the does in a population and stabilize the deer herd:

Poor or Low-Quality Habitats: One adult doe for every 300 to 640-plus acres.

 Moderate-Quality Habitats: One adult doe for every 100 to 300 acres.

 High-Quality Habitats: One adult doe for every 25 to 100 acres.

Not sure about the productivity of the habitat in your area? Check with your state wildlife agency for deer productivity data. You can also contact your local Cooperative Extension office or a wildlife consultant. Ideally, you’re learning to determine the productivity of your habitat by reading Quality Whitetails and attending QDMA Branch educational events. Your own herd monitoring efforts will help; harvest data such as average weight by age class and lactation rates for yearling does are useful measures of habitat productivity. Monitoring browse pressure on food plots and natural forages, especially with the use of browse exclosures, can tell you much about the size of a deer population in relation to available forage.

What if, like most folks, you manage a small property? This is where Cooperatives can play a big role. QDM Cooperatives provide many benefits to landowners including the opportunity to harvest the appropriate number of antlerless deer. By pooling habitat, deer data, and harvest pressure, managers are more likely to achieve their target antlerless harvest, and all Cooperative members benefit when the right number of deer are harvested.

What does this mean for your management program? Now is the time to calculate your target doe harvest for the 2007 season. If your goal is to stabilize the deer population, harvest 20 to 30 percent of the does. Determine the actual number by conducting a scouting-camera or alternative survey and estimating the total number of does on the property or Cooperative. Multiply that number by 20 to 30 percent and you have your target doe harvest. If you don’t have a density estimate, harvest one doe for every 300 to 640-plus acres of low-productivity habitat, one for every 100 to 300 acres of moderately productive habitat, and one doe for every 25 to 100 acres of highly productive habitat. Be careful to not harvest more than one buck fawn for every 10 does. The best way to achieve this target harvest is to clearly communicate the importance of reaching it to everyone hunting on the property or Cooperative and to start as early in the hunting season as possible. Good luck, and be sure to collect a jawbone and harvest data from every antlerless deer!

About the Author: Kip Adams of Pennsylvania is a certified wildlife biologist and QDMA’s Director of Education & Outreach in the North.
Kip P. Adams, a certified wildlife biologist and Director of Education and Outreach for the Northern Region for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA).  The QDMA is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting sustainable, high-quality, white-tailed deer populations, wildlife habitats and ethical hunting experiences through education, research, and management in partnership with hunters, landowners, natural resource professionals, and the public.  The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209-DEER or www.QDMA.com.