Has there been any research on how eliminating youth doe hunts really affects age/trophy class? I just see that if young fawns are running with does that are shot at verse does that are not shot at, being at different levels of education/experience people once they do grow antlers? More out of curiosity for me. Just would like to see if there is some research on it.
We allow youth doe hunting only in places where deer populations can withstand the harvest. In fact, during the last big winter, we closed most of the youth antlerless opportunity for 2 years to ensure we are not overharvesting the doe portion of the population, and to help it recover more quickly.
Through decades of deer management, we’ve learned that youth doe harvest can enhance overall health of the population. Allowing youth to have the option of taking does also enhances buck survival, and that can help future buck hunting opportunities. Removing does in populations that are negatively impacting their habitat is one way to help increase the overall health of the herd. Increased herd health actually helps all deer be more productive from does having more twin fawns and buck having larger antlers as they mature.