Whitetail density theory

[captain caveman]

Thanks for the link will check it out.  Would be interesting to observe the effect on behavior and fawn survival with the introduction of a new predator into a system.  My assumption as originally stated is they would initially have a measurable advantage.  This trend should disappear as the prey species become aware of the new threat.  Our numbers seem to be rebounding and I wonder if it could be attributed to does adapting to life with bobcats and coyotes.  I am in no way villianizing the coyote for doing what he was designed to do.  We have had black bear hit on local highways and confirmed montain lion sightings in bordering states who knows what our future fawna may include guaranteed to be interesting.

[toddster]

I agree, not the coyotes fault.  Deer as with any species are resilient, until become over populated, then disease and lack of food takes it's toll.  I have personally seen a great hunting area, turn cold in one season.  It was do to the lack of food, the animals went to where the food was.  I also have witnessed the results of disease, in one season seeing an area become almost dormant.

[Mark Normand]

Studies like these always peak my interest in fawn mortality. It sure seems common sense that knocking down the predators hard prior to fawning season would contribute greatly to increasing deer numbers in general.  

 https://www.warnell.uga.edu/sites/default/files/publications/WSFNR-16-51%20McConnell.pdf

[23feetupandhappy]

Originally posted by DarrinG:
On much of the public lands here I feel the #1 problem is habitat (or lack thereof). Back in the 80's and early 90's I saw a healthy population increase in whitetail deer on a couple areas I hunt regularly, and I credited it to one major reason...timber harvest. The Forest Service used to manage the lands with Foresters who knew what they were doing, and allowed selective timber harvests on strategically planned areas. Soon afterward they caved in to the squeaky wheel groups who protested, got on the news at every chance and wrote letters upon letters demanding the Forest Service quit "raping" the forests and murdering trees. Its been many, many years since I've seen the FS in my area do any logging operations. Now we have tall, mature forest with little to no undergrowth and browse, and the wildlife populations (deer, ruffed grouse, turkey, rabbit, etc) have steadily been in a downward spiral population-wise. IMO, I think its a direct result of poor planning on the FS and giving in to the touchy-feely emotions of tree-huggers over sounds land/wildlife management.

Thee most important factor in holding deer on a piece of ground is habitat and the thicker the better.  They need cover, open mature forests wont cut it!  
Given the proper cover they can overcome many diverse problems, including thriving amongst predators.
 

I know that many don't own the land that they hunt and so don't have the opportunity to manage those lands but if you do, thick cover is the key to a healthy deer herd!

[23feetupandhappy]

Ill also add that on certain wet years a hay mower can be devastating to a fawn population.

Here in Eastern Iowa its been pretty consistently wet and we weren't able to get in to mow hay till this Monday, probably two weeks late.
You know the oll saying " Make hay when the sun shines"  Well now we are in to prime fawning season and in a 8 acre field we hit one and missed another  
And they were oh so small   :(
We watched that evening as mama with her serving fawn ran around the field frantically looking for #2    

Many factors go into a fawns survival and the odds are stacked against them......