Buck to Doe Ratio

[OutHouse]

Wondering what people think about the ratio this year. I had some days when I saw over 30 does and some small but illegal bucks, and it made me think maybe there are just less bucks this year.   

[GOcougsHunter]

for my spot in GMU 133, it appears there are significantly more bucks this year. Lots more distinct bucks on my game cameras than in years past.  Whitetail population is waaaaayyyy down.

[hunter399]

I have seen some areas have more buck then doe also.
No doe tags around me ,so predations ,human and animal variety.
Is my thinking,not sure ,just what I figured.
Or just dead from blue tongue/CWD.....LOL

[mboyle0828]

I hunted westside public land last weekend during the storm and saw two does, but three bucks- which is a solid ratio.

Maybe it was due to the storm but I’ve never seen more bucks in one day than does

[fowl smacker]

We've hunted several 500 units and have been out a ton this year.  Seeing on average 20 does and 1 or 2 spikes a trip.  I've seen 2 what I consider good bucks in probably 12 trips out.

[hunter399]

When the doe ratio is low ,for whatever reason.
A lot harder to hunt the rut.
Find an area with more doe.

[Colton195]

Hunting on the west side i saw 1 buck for every 15 does or so. Mostly spikes and two points.

[dilleytech]

I noticed a very good buck to doe ratio this year. Maybe 1 to 5. But mostly small bucks. Next year could be a really good year. 

[ldjbuff]

Buck to doe ratio in unit 204 was great!

[npaull]

There's a HUGE difference between the buck:doe ratio you see vs the buck:doe ratio that's actually out there.

I remember a deer biologist on the MeatEater podcast a few years ago talking about this. If I remember right he was saying that no matter what you hear, even the most CRAZY out of balance areas essentially never have a ratio that's much worse than 1:2 or so. Which is surprising. Tells you how different the behavior of bucks and does is.

[hunter399]

There's a HUGE difference between the buck:doe ratio you see vs the buck:doe ratio that's actually out there.

I remember a deer biologist on the MeatEater podcast a few years ago talking about this. If I remember right he was saying that no matter what you hear, even the most CRAZY out of balance areas essentially never have a ratio that's much worse than 1:2 or so. Which is surprising. Tells you how different the behavior of bucks and does is.

I'd agree mostly.
Cameras vs on the hoof.

So ya I agree ,always something out there that may get missed .

[OutHouse]

for my spot in GMU 133, it appears there are significantly more bucks this year. Lots more distinct bucks on my game cameras than in years past.  Whitetail population is waaaaayyyy down.

Interesting. Usually I see a lot of whitetails in Okanogan County but saw very few this year with the exception of two decent bucks during archery. But that was it.

[OutHouse]

There's a HUGE difference between the buck:doe ratio you see vs the buck:doe ratio that's actually out there.

I remember a deer biologist on the MeatEater podcast a few years ago talking about this. If I remember right he was saying that no matter what you hear, even the most CRAZY out of balance areas essentially never have a ratio that's much worse than 1:2 or so. Which is surprising. Tells you how different the behavior of bucks and does is.

Holy cow that is a key fact that will help me a lot in future hunts. Thanks!!