RANCHING Wildlife
an average harvest per hunter of 0.89 deer. These odds are not too bad for a person pursuing a white-tailed deer in Texas. I hope 2014 will have similar odds, if not better. I encourage hunters to continue to fi ll their tags in
areas such as the Hill Country, where deer numbers are likely beyond what the habitat should be supporting, or in areas that may start to experience drier condi- tions this fall. If hunters and landowners are unsure about how
many deer they should harvest on their lease or ranch, consider contacting the local TPWD wildlife biolo- gist to discuss possible deer survey options and deer harvest recommendations. Establishing a population estimate on the hunting property can help hunters bet- ter manage the deer herd in their area while meeting deer management and hunting goals. Check out the following link to the TPWD website to
fi nd your local TPWD biologist
http://www.tpwd.texas. gov/landwater/land/technical_guidance/biologists/.
Antler quality estimate A hunting forecast wouldn’t be complete without some
estimation of antler quality for the upcoming season. Although still early, predictions indicate an average
year for antler quality at the statewide scale, but hunters should keep in mind the eastern portion of the state is likely to have another above average year for antlers. For most hunters the average buck is a pretty good
deer, and unless you’re a trophy antler collector, I sus- pect a 6.5-year-old buck or older scoring 127 Boone and Crockett (B&C) would be a heck of a deer; this is the statewide average for a 6.5-year-old buck. Statewide average B&C score for 4.5- to 5.5-year-old bucks is 121 B&C with the South Texas region producing the best quality bucks at 129 B&C on average. Average B&C scores and overall quality do not
fl uctuate too much within an age group or age class. Lack of adequate nutrition often related to drought or too many deer on the range, causing competition for forage resources, have the greatest impact on antler
68 The Cattleman September 2014
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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