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Drought = Less deer?
#7249877
08/09/18 03:01 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,806
MathMan
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OP
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Last few years at this time I had about 12 different bucks on camera regularly coming to my protein feeders at night and a few deer coming morning and evening.
This year I only have 2 bucks coming to my protein feeder and a few doe.
This year we are in a bad drought. Last few years we were not.
We’ve passed on some nice bucks the past few years hoping they will be nice in the future.
Well...the future is this year!!! Where are they!?
Does the drought limit them from traveling?
We do have water on our property and close by neighbors have water too. So it’s not like they don’t have water.
I figured that since it’s so dry that they would find our protein and corn feeders and eat them up like crazy.
My protein is going old!
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7249888
08/09/18 03:14 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,663
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,663 |
In my experience, deer hit feeders harder in drought years, less natural groceries. That said, more deer probably do not make it through drought years vs non-drought years.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7250158
08/09/18 01:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213
tShawnB
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Drought will equal less deer down the road as fewer fawns will survive; however, if the deer you were watching last year were healthy and you have food and water on your place, those deer or at least most of them should be around. Just about all the bucks we let walk last year are back at the protein feeders sans 1 or 2 and we're in a drought as well.
How come everybody I meet is a deer hunting expert?
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: DQ Kid]
#7250178
08/09/18 01:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,883
HuntnFly67
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,883 |
In my experience, deer hit feeders harder in drought years, less natural groceries. That said, more deer probably do not make it through drought years vs non-drought years. x2. I am convinced that the 2010-2012 drought killed more fawns (and deer in general) than initially thought. I'm afraid the 2018 fawn crop may have suffered the same fate and 2019 looks bleak without some significant moisture ASAP. That being said, our bucks that made it through the drought seemed to have better antler growth.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7250179
08/09/18 01:33 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605 |
Huge mesquite bean crop this year. We're very dry in NE Webb Co. but our protein consumption has been a bit below normal because of all the beans.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: fouzman]
#7250219
08/09/18 02:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 347
Daddybigbuck
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 347 |
Huge mesquite bean crop this year. We're very dry in NE Webb Co. but our protein consumption has been a bit below normal because of all the beans. This is something I hadn't considered our protein consumption is down this year as well. Also seeing fewer doe at the protein feeders.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: fouzman]
#7250246
08/09/18 02:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170
Jimbo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,170 |
Huge mesquite bean crop this year. We're very dry in NE Webb Co. but our protein consumption has been a bit below normal because of all the beans. This^^^ as long as they have plenty of mesquite beans and water nearby, they won't travel far to hit a feeder.
Thursday at 12:45 PM #33 Once i learned that i didn't "NEED" to kill something, and that if i did kill something all the fun stopped and work began, i was a much better hunter.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: Jimbo]
#7250253
08/09/18 02:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,806
MathMan
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Huge mesquite bean crop this year. We're very dry in NE Webb Co. but our protein consumption has been a bit below normal because of all the beans. This^^^ as long as they have plenty of mesquite beans and water nearby, they won't travel far to hit a feeder. That makes sense. We have a ton of mesquite. I guess we will see come season
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7250322
08/09/18 03:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 586
ErnestTBass
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 586 |
We do not have mesquite.
They are pounding the feeders.
Fawns still look ok, but this ain't over yet.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7250345
08/09/18 04:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Mesquite Beans will drop consumption but Pear Apples(Tunas) will drop it just as much if not more. Other mast crops are also going to drop consumption in some areas this time of the year. After 12" of rain in a 10 day period from late June into July the deer quit eating protein here on my place. They stopped coming to the corn feeders also where I had to turn them down. I had a lot of fresh growth browse and forbs in that time frame. Then a big persimmon crop with some other brush seed pods. Just now starting to see a few deer hitting protein feeders this past few days.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: stxranchman]
#7250729
08/09/18 10:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,806
MathMan
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Mesquite Beans will drop consumption but Pear Apples(Tunas) will drop it just as much if not more. Other mast crops are also going to drop consumption in some areas this time of the year. After 12" of rain in a 10 day period from late June into July the deer quit eating protein here on my place. They stopped coming to the corn feeders also where I had to turn them down. I had a lot of fresh growth browse and forbs in that time frame. Then a big persimmon crop with some other brush seed pods. Just now starting to see a few deer hitting protein feeders this past few days. Thanks stx
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7250928
08/10/18 12:50 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Mesquite Beans will drop consumption but Pear Apples(Tunas) will drop it just as much if not more. Other mast crops are also going to drop consumption in some areas this time of the year. After 12" of rain in a 10 day period from late June into July the deer quit eating protein here on my place. They stopped coming to the corn feeders also where I had to turn them down. I had a lot of fresh growth browse and forbs in that time frame. Then a big persimmon crop with some other brush seed pods. Just now starting to see a few deer hitting protein feeders this past few days. Thanks stx IIRC where you hunt. There was a fire about 2 miles N/NE of this afternoon north of the HWY. Took 6 fire trucks and lot of helping hands but they got it put out finally. Thanks to low winds and shredded pastures it was able to be held in check before it got into the taller grass in the thicker pasture.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: stxranchman]
#7251056
08/10/18 03:00 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,806
MathMan
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,806 |
Mesquite Beans will drop consumption but Pear Apples(Tunas) will drop it just as much if not more. Other mast crops are also going to drop consumption in some areas this time of the year. After 12" of rain in a 10 day period from late June into July the deer quit eating protein here on my place. They stopped coming to the corn feeders also where I had to turn them down. I had a lot of fresh growth browse and forbs in that time frame. Then a big persimmon crop with some other brush seed pods. Just now starting to see a few deer hitting protein feeders this past few days. Thanks stx IIRC where you hunt. There was a fire about 2 miles N/NE of this afternoon north of the HWY. Took 6 fire trucks and lot of helping hands but they got it put out finally. Thanks to low winds and shredded pastures it was able to be held in check before it got into the taller grass in the thicker pasture. Thanks. I’ll be there Friday morning. I’ll check it out.
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Re: Drought = Less deer?
[Re: MathMan]
#7255857
08/14/18 11:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 442
nocknload
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 442 |
Deer birth rates do drop during droughts
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