ANTLERLESS DEER HARVEST             

By: Annette VonEnde

One objective of quality deer management is to adequately manage the doe population. In many areas, this means increased antlerless harvest. The antlerless harvest is the most important component of the quality management plan. It can help accomplish some of our goals as follows:

1. Balance the buck to doe ratio
2. Reduce herd density
3. Reduce yearling buck dispersal
4. Shorten the rut
5. Shift the breeding season earlier
6. Improve the quality of young bucks
7. Provide meat for your freezer

Things to Consider for Selective Antlerless Harvest

Antlerless deer include all females and 6 month old male fawns, known as button bucks or nubbin bucks. Some hunters refer to fawns, male and female, as yearlings. Technically a yearling is a 11/2 year old.

There are some conflicting objectives in harvesting antlerless deer. First remove enough antlerless animals to lower or maintain the herd density. Second, avoid the harvest of male fawns. When producing mature bucks is a management objective, harvesting high numbers of  button bucks is a mistake. Last year alone there were            button bucks harvested in Minnesota. Through education and an understanding of the management impact of each deer harvested, adequate antlerless( female) harvests can be achieved while minimizing harvest of button bucks.

Here are some recommendations for selective harvest of antlerless deer. Hunting scenarios vary and there are exceptions to every rule.

1. Size and shape are the most important factor in identifying adult does and fawns. An adult doe has a long head and neck; its body is large and rectangular. Fawns have short heads and necks and are short and square. Consider size and shape before shooting and use the best scopes and binoculars available to observe deer.
2. Avoid harvesting “lone” antlerless deer. Wait until another deer arrives to compare size. Most often fawn bucks are more aggressive than doe fawns and will be the first to show up on a field. It is common during the rut to encounter small groups of abandoned fawns, if all the deer appear similar in size wait for a behavioral clue.
3. When spooked, deer frequently will return to satisfy their curiosity. They will circle the problem to get downwind so they can confirm whether danger exists. With few exceptions, the dominant doe will initiate and lead the investigation. 
4. When watching antlerless deer, pay attention to the dominant animal that holds its ears back and rushes other deer. Often the front legs are used to strike or flail subordinate animals. Fawns often buck and chase. Watch for aggressive adult body postures and adolescent behavior.
5. Hunt antlerless deer as early in the season as legally permitted. Late in the season, there is less of a size difference between adult does and button bucks.
6. The bottom line of harvesting antlerless deer, is give the deer the benefit of doubt before you pull that trigger.

Keep the Fun in Hunting

Implementing QDM standards in your hunting group requires new attitudes and observation skills. Not shooting a legal antlered buck, judging antler size and age of bucks, and identifying mature does and button bucks can be difficult for even the most experienced hunter. Many coops strictly enforce rules and assess penalties such as fines or loss of membership. Peer pressure can be so extreme that some hunters cannot enjoy hunting. Starting out with minimum rules within your coop and increasing the restrictions after the first and second year. This will allow attitudes and skills to evolve with the changing herd.

Another concern is young hunters who have never taken a deer. Some QDM coops will allow an inexperienced hunter to take any antlered buck or antlerless animal for their first deer. This year with the Early Antlerless Season, the opportunity can be taken by the parent or mentor to explain the characteristics of a mature doe and a fawn so this may not be such a problem during rifle season.

Every QDM situation is different. People hunt for many reasons, but they all hunt because thy enjoy some aspects of the experience. QDM cannot create the desired herd density, sex ratio, and age structure in a single season. QDM is a long-term relationship between hunters and deer that becomes stronger with time.