A Change in Deer Dynamics
Since this forum has the word, “miscellaneous,” I figured it was the closest I could file this post under.
For about 10 years(2013-2023) I hunted a piece of land in SE Arkansas that belongs to my in-laws.
The particular spot was always an hot bed for does. (I’ve killed a couple of bucks in the spot). However, it’s always been an easy spot to go bag a doe and put meat in the freezer. Around 2023, my mother-in-law wanted to start hunting again and claimed the spot. It’s her land, so I moved to my own property that I just purchased.
This year, very last minute, she decided that she didn’t want to hunt anymore. So, happily decided to rehunt a favorite spot of mine. I set up a stand. I didn’t run cameras. I also set up a last minute corn feeder for my wife. By last minute, 4 days before Opening Day. I’ve killed many does out there without a feeder. I’ve killed many over a feeder. It’s just that good of a spot.
I hunted the spot the entire opening weekend. I hunted it on Veterans Day and a day or two in the Thanksgiving Break. These were all really good days for deer movement. I saw multiple deer. All of them were from a bachelor group of young, illegal bucks. I came back for our Christmas hunt(which ends this evening, Dec 28). I have yet to see a single doe.
While sitting on the stand and mulling over the change in doe activity, I’ve only come up with a few theories as to why the change.
First and foremost, I didn’t run cameras. So they may have been walking through all along and I haven’t had the opportunity to see them.
The bachelor group moved in and bumped the does to a different bedding area.
The neighborhoods have planted food plots or something and made my spot a much less cool place to hang out.
A little bit of all of the above.
Like I said, my data isn’t solid and based solely on personal observation. I’m not too worried about it as I have plans of planting some food plots this spring. I have just found myself a bit perplexed about the change, especially in an area that has such a high whitetail density(South Arkansas is the NYC for Bambi). I’d love to hear y’all’s thoughts on this!
My neighbors have large amt. of crops, plus feed a lot. My farm is only 100 acres. I only gun hunt on it during buck season, but bow hunt on it 1 1/2 months. That is a plus for deer activity, BUT I have massive amounts of white oak acorns. During doe season I saw over 150 does, 50+ fawns, a dozen spikes, 4 4pts., 1 6 pt, and a 8 pt. that I shot with my bow as well as one doe.
During buck season I, my friend from PA, & my son-in-law killed 6 bucks & 2 does. The bucks came from other farms looking for "my does".
So, bottom line is less activity year around, natural food supply, and enhanced food (planting), which I dont do, but my neighbor makes hay on my 2 massive fields & fertilizes them yearly. I have fantastic grass that the deer really like.