It’s antlerless season in Calhoun County. Now is an
excellent time to fill the freezer with tasty venison. It is good for
the herd to harvest does. It is good for the body to eat venison, as it
is lower in fat and calories than beef.
Many people would like to believe that harvesting a
doe takes away future bucks. This is not the case. Everyone would agree
that Wisconsin is a trophy state with great bucks. Wisconsin requires
that hunters harvest a doe before they are allowed to harvest a buck.
Ohio had the same regulation not that long ago. Both states are leaders
in trophy buck production.
The problem is harvesting less does than bucks year
after year. This leads to small bucks and an abundance of does. Another
way to describe this is an unbalanced herd. With an unbalanced herd, the
rut is weaker, as bucks do not have to chase for does. Antler production
is less since there are too many deer taking up nutrients that would
lead to antler development.
I urge hunters to take to the woods of Calhoun
County in search of antlerless deer. Doe hunting is also an exceptional
way to introduce youngsters to hunting. Future woodsmen have a much
better chance of harvesting a doe. Take a child hunting.
Trivia question time. In the last 10 years, how
many seasons has Calhoun harvested more does than bucks with a firearm?
Read next week for the answer.
If you harvested a large buck or had an extraordinary
hunt, please email me at
coryboothe@verizon.net. Good luck and be safe.
Editor’s
Note: Cory is the son of Ronzel and Karen Boothe of Russett. He is a
1996 graduate of Calhoun County High School and is a teacher at Meadow
Bridge Elementary, Fayette County. He resides near Summersville.)