Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:48 am
The mass harvesting of does is pushed by insurance companies, not over-population. Yes I do realize that there are parts of the state that have way too many does that need harvesting. But you've got some delta counties that are hurting right now. Even if you put sanctions on some areas and decrease the doe limit......you make it legal for 1, they take 10. My uncle is in a big lease where they avg 60+ bucks a season, 8pt or better, zero doe harvesting. They haven't gotten 60 in past 3 yrs total because they are surrounding by doe killers and the bucks just disappeared.
We had the pleasure of going on a guided deer hunt in south ms last year, over 6000 acres. He doesn't allow any doe harvesting other than by special request by a customer, which is a rariety. He's makes a living by this motto, and I believe what he says....."if you take my does, my bucks are leaving" and there goes my income. He's a wildlife biologist that has worked and consulted for several ranches in texas before coming back to ms. So when he had this big conversation about the harvesting #'s, I took everything he said to heart.
As for food plots, I believe they hurt you more than help in the delta than in the hills, and here's why. That deer in delta can walk 20 yds from his bed and get food, plus he knows that the food plot isn't going anywhere so he waits after dark to come out to eat, only the smart thing to do. Hill deer don't have as many food options so they are more or less inclined to come visit the block during daytime hrs. Last year we planted zero foodplots except for a sample plot I fixed up with some new stuff last season. We saw twice as many deer last season than the year before because the deer were forced to get up and search for food during the day. We saw more bucks also, even though the majority of them were younger bucks, which hopefully means that next season will be better, can't get any worse. The past 2 season #'s equaled harvest #'s in the early 70's, and that's not good.
We had the pleasure of going on a guided deer hunt in south ms last year, over 6000 acres. He doesn't allow any doe harvesting other than by special request by a customer, which is a rariety. He's makes a living by this motto, and I believe what he says....."if you take my does, my bucks are leaving" and there goes my income. He's a wildlife biologist that has worked and consulted for several ranches in texas before coming back to ms. So when he had this big conversation about the harvesting #'s, I took everything he said to heart.
As for food plots, I believe they hurt you more than help in the delta than in the hills, and here's why. That deer in delta can walk 20 yds from his bed and get food, plus he knows that the food plot isn't going anywhere so he waits after dark to come out to eat, only the smart thing to do. Hill deer don't have as many food options so they are more or less inclined to come visit the block during daytime hrs. Last year we planted zero foodplots except for a sample plot I fixed up with some new stuff last season. We saw twice as many deer last season than the year before because the deer were forced to get up and search for food during the day. We saw more bucks also, even though the majority of them were younger bucks, which hopefully means that next season will be better, can't get any worse. The past 2 season #'s equaled harvest #'s in the early 70's, and that's not good.
Lord knows what damage it did to our Pea sizrd brains! 
