[scottrobinson]

Does anyone know this ratio for central Maine? I have suspected that it is skewed towards does. I e-mailed IF&W and got no reply.

 

[kenton6]

I don't know how long you have been waiting for a reply but it usually take several days, especially during this busy time of the year.

I don't have any concrete numbers to support your theory but I think it is safe to assume that their are more does (or antlerless) deer in that neck of the woods.

You could try contacting wildlife biologist Lee Kantar directly at:
[email protected]

He has answered some of my deer questions before but give them time to respond.

 

[scottrobinson]

Is a year and two months enough time?

 

[kenton6]

I can certainly understand your frustration but give it awhile longer :roflmao: :roflmao:
Shit in that amount of time you could have gone out and counted them yourself!!!

 

[kenton6]

Maybe this link will give you a better understanding of buck/doe ratios and what effects them and then take a look at how Maine is managing the deer herds in Central Maine and figure it out for yourself. Here's a quote from the first part of this pdf document.

Sex ratio is simply a measurement of the number of adult bucks in relation to the
number of adult does that exist on a given property. Properties that have a history of
significant buck harvest and limited doe harvest can have a sex ratio skewed heavily
towards females. Likewise, properties that have protected the majority of bucks from
harvest and harvested effective numbers of does can have a “balanced sex ratio” or an
even number of adult bucks and does. Historical data from natural deer herds that have
been virtually protected from human hunters indicates that a deer herd would naturally
have a “balanced adult sex ratio”, close to one buck per one doe. The most significant
controlling influence on adult sex ratio is the hunter’s bullet or arrow. Every time a deer
is removed from the herd, the adult sex ratio can be impacted in favor of males or
females​

 

[mainehunter4992]

have you figured out what the ratio is? i also hunt central maine and i have been wondering the same thing for some time now.

 

[kenton6]

Well, my guesstimate is that according to what I read, in an ideal situation, the buck to doe ratio would be 1:1. If what they say is true that in areas where there are too many deer the buck to doe ratio would climb to 1 buck for each 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. does. The reverse, I assume (ASS out of U and ME) would be true if there are too few deer.

With that said, central Maine has what biologists say is near or slightly more than enough deer for the habitat available. This is why central Maine WMDs generally have ample ANY-DEER permits issued. The bottom line is I would guess the ratio to be 1:1.5 or 1:2 - being one buck per each 1 - 2 does.

This doesn't factor in mature bucks versus first year bucks as I understand it. The rate of kill for button bucks and/or fawns in any-deer permit areas is high. If I am reading the information I have correctly, this ratio is determined by looking at 1 1/2 and older bucks.

Geez, did I make ANY sense?