AGE LIMITS
So what is the next step to take in your deer management efforts? I believe that harvesting bucks solely on their age is the best way hunters can begin to see positive results from their deer management program. The age-selection method gives all young bucks the chance to reach maturity and grow into the large-bodied, large-antlered bucks most hunters are looking for.

The age limit you set for your harvest plan depends on the goals you have as a hunter. I suggest beginning with a realistic age limit suited to the current deer herd and raising that limit as you progress in your management program and begin to see results. Setting the age limit too high initially may cause some hunters to become frustrated with the lack of success. This frustration is one reason why hunters give up on their deer management plans.

Setting age limits doesn't target bucks in any way based on genetics. Another reason I believe this is the best management tool for the herd is that it allows nature to have more control over which genes are passed on from generation to generation. This allows natural selection to have more of an impact on the herd by promoting "survival of the fittest," nature's method of driving a species to continually improve on its survival abilities by allowing the most physically fit members to reproduce.

However, aging a buck on the hoof in a split second before you shoot is easier said than done. It takes practice. Furthermore, in herds that are dominated by 1 1/2- and 2 1/2-year-old bucks, it may be a tough thing to do. As my brothers and I switched over to this system, we spent many hours observing bucks. One huge benefit from this was that we became familiar with individual deer and we were able to recognize them. This allowed us to follow these deer from year to year and see how they changed in appearance with age. Then, by knowing the ages of these bucks, we were able to decide which bucks we wanted to target and which ones we wanted to pass up before the season began.

As time went on, we became proficient at aging bucks on the hoof, and now we're able to age bucks quickly. Now, when making those split-second decisions while hunting, we're rarely disappointed. Antler size can help give you a quick guess on a buck's age, but the body characteristics are the determining factor. Yearling bucks tend to be thin and look like they have long legs compared to older deer. As a buck ages, he'll fill out considerably. Older bucks develop a swayed back and a drooping belly.

Watching hunting videos and looking at pictures in books and magazines are two of the best ways I know of to get a feel for aging older bucks, especially if you rarely get a chance to see them in the wild. When using this system, you should be proficient at aging deer up to the age limit you've chosen as a minimum as mentioned. For instance, if you plan to shoot only 3 1/2-year-old bucks and older, you should be able to separate bucks into 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 1.2-plus categories. Learning how to accurately age deer using tooth wear or having someone do it for you is a way to help check how well you are aging the bucks you harvest.

WHAT ABOUT DOES?
So far I've only keyed in on management pertaining to bucks. Management of does is equally as important in your program and very important in the health of the deer herd. While most hunters now realize that the harvest of does is an essential part of management in order to keep herds healthy, many still don't follow through with the practice. Overpopulated herds decimate regeneration in forests and eliminate much of the whitetail's favorite foods in their areas. In the North especially, wintering yards can be over-browsed, and this leads to high winterkills during harsh winters. Once the preferred browse species disappear, a deer's health declines drastically since it can't get the nutrition it needs. Overpopulated herds are also much more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Keeping doe numbers down should be a priority in most deer management programs.

Following the reduction of deer numbers, the increase in quality browse will lead to heavier body weights, higher survival rates and larger antler sizes. If you check the record book, you'll find that most of the largest bucks taken every year aren't taken in areas with high deer numbers. They're taken in states and provinces where lower population levels help bucks reach enormous sizes because the land these deer live on provides more quality forage and less stress on both bucks and does.

YOU'LL SEE MORE BUCKS
Contrary to what many hunters think, reducing doe numbers also leads to more buck sightings during the rut. The fewer does there are in an area, the more the local bucks must travel to find them during the breeding season. This is especially true for mature bucks that have taken on nocturnal tendencies. These bucks rarely move much during daylight if they don't have to.

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