“I’m having a problem getting our hunters to shoot does! I know you said we need to harvest somewhere around 40!” I interrupted my rancher friend and reminded him there needed to be at least 45 does taken during the present hunting season. And it would be better if it was 50 does. “What can I do? Thus far they’ve only shot ten and did so reluctantly. What would you do?”
It was the last days of November. The ranch’s Texas Managed Land Deer Permit season had been going on since the last days of September. Because of that particular MLDP program deer on the ranch’s property could be hunted until the last day of February.
“The property is yours; you are the one who issues the MLDP tags to the hunters. Tell them today, they are no longer allowed to take any bucks before each hunter takes at least two does and you require them to shoot the required number of does before season’s end if they want to return next year. To help accomplish the latter, allow them to bring in friends and family to shoot does. But also tell them there will be a ranch fine of $500 if they shoot a “nubbin” or 6-month-old buck and they’ll have to use one of the buck tags if they do.” Before my rancher friend could respond I continued, “Every serious deer hunter should have a good binocular such as those produced by Stealth Vision (www.stealthvision.com). Most too have high magnification scopes which go to 20x or more. They can use those to be certain they do not shoot a young of the year buck. If they tell you their scope are not “clear enough”, suggest they contact Stealth Vision for one of their superb rifle scopes.”
“During the time “bucks are in hard antler” they tend to be the dominant animals around existing bait stations (baiting is legal and a common practice in Texas) and often does avoid those areas during bucks’ hard antler time because they do not want to be harassed or chased. That being the case what I do on the ranches where I hunt, I use Vineyard Max (www.vineyardmax.net) and set up temporary feeding stations some distance from where existing bait stations are located. This does two things; one it pulls does into a specific area and secondly it eliminates doe shooting around existing bait stations, making bucks feel more comfortable around those.”
“Using Vineyard Max, which everywhere I’ve been and used the product as an attractant, deer are attracted to because of the aroma. Using Vineyard Max one can really look over a deer before shooting, making certain it’s not a nubbin buck.” My rancher friend listened intently. “The other thing about Vineyard Max is that it’s also good for deer because of the energy it provides. As you’ll recall the research we did a few years ago through our Los Cazadores Hunting Headquarters (which I used to own with friends) we learned energy is just as important as protein when it comes to healthy deer. So there’s a side benefit of using Vineyard Max.”
“I’ve met some of your hunters. They are serious rifle hunters and I love that. I suspect they have more than one rifle, and some I know carry handguns as a sidearm. Suggest to them using rifles and or handguns, calibers and rounds they normally don’t use to shoot does.” I again continued, “I love hunting and shooting does with guns I do not regularly use and those I normally use with a different bullet or load. I have, as you know, numerous Taurus Raging Hunter handguns and dearly love hunting with them. I also have some vintage rifles that I truly enjoy shooting occasionally and I am always anxious to use. But with that said, you know I shoot Mossberg Patriot rifles in numerous calibers and rounds. I love these guns for good reason. Coupled with appropriate Hornady ammo, they truly are as Hornady’s tagline state, “Accurate, Deadly and Dependable!”
“Hunting and shooting does too is a great way to develop confidence in one’s ability with a particular rifle or handgun. That’s one of the reasons I shoot does quite often with my Mossberg Patriots Predator (www.mossberg.com) 7mm PRC, using Hornday 175-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter (www.hornady.com). That rifle is equipped with an Avient Rapid Heat Releasing Technology barrel. Another Mossberg I’m hunting does with this fall is a Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 PRC, topped with a Stealth Vision SVT scope and shooting Hornady’s Precision Hunter 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter. I want to learn all I can about these rifles, especially since I’m using both after I have taken all the does, I need to take on my lease, to hunt a couple of really good bucks. I’m also taking the 6.5 PRC to Durango, Mexico for Coues deer immediately after the January 9th thru 12th DSC Convention at the Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center. I’ll be hunting there with two fellow DSC members Abe Nayfa and Richard Gold. Knowing shots at Coues deer can require long-range shots, I want to confidentially know I can take a big Coues out of 600-yards, if there’s no earthly way to get closer. Shooting does with that combination will give me that confidence and experience, that along with a lot of time at the range shooting steel. Even though I know I can place a shot within what would be the vitals of a Coues deer at 800 yards with my Mossberg/Hornady/StealthVision combination my goal will be to get within 200-yards or less before pulling the trigger.”
My rancher friend listened intently, because he like me like shooting, but also he wanted the hunters on his property to take the number does required before season’s end. I could see he still had questions.
So, I continued, “What we’ve done on several ranches I’ve been involved with on the management programs, is have a contest for: the heaviest doe and the oldest doe. We’ve also done contest for the doe taken by the youngest hunter as well as the oldest hunter. These work well, as do setting up a contest in categories for rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders, archery and crossbow.” I added, “Remember you control the land and the permits. You’ve got a nice group of hunters, but they need to remember who is in charge…YOU!”
“Tell them you’re not going to renew their lease unless they take the required number of does before season’s end. That will get their attention, and I assure you they will get it done! Hunting places such as your property are extremely hard to find! Then…when you write the lease for next year add a clause that states two does need to be taken before any bucks may be shot, and again, if the required number of does are not taken during the hunting season, they could lose the lease!”
“If they balk at those requirements, there are many other hunters out there would love to lease your property for hunting! Tough love I know, but what you’re asking or telling them to do will only improve the hunting on your property and if they are the ones who will benefit, as well as the deer herd, the habitat and other wildlife on your property!”
