Deer hunting is important in Louisiana. Hunting the elusive whitetail is exciting. Hunting camps are an integral part of rural landscapes. And the camaraderie of hunting with buddies is a very important part of the quality of life for many.
But one of the less fun nuisances of a hunting club is record keeping. It’s not the fun part. But it’s critical to understanding and successfully managing a deer herd. Real information is needed. Real data, not guesses, which can meander far from reality. Data like doe/buck ratios, fawn production and survival, and buck antler characteristics. Imagine a deer herd as a giant puzzle and each deer demographic and habitat information as pieces to that puzzle.
There is some information such as habitat conditions, browse surveys, hard and soft mast production, and deer population surveys that require a biologist. But hunting club members themselves, with some effort toward structured deer harvest, sightings, and record keeping, can provide pieces to and help solve the puzzle. But again, real data is needed. Guesses or estimates are worse than no data; they are misleading.
Weights — Whole or field dressed weights are a general indication of deer condition. But weights are related to soil fertility and habitat conditions, as well as time of year, doe nursing status, and buck rutting. Weight data over time and in comparison with weights from similar habitat are an indication of herd health. Also, visual observations of body and kidney fat give an idea of the health of the animal.
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