Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

offset the influences of dispersal and neighboring hunters who do not
share in the TDM philosophy.
Deer managers attempting to produce trophy bucks must realize
soil fertility produces a ceiling of performance with respect to body
weights and antler development. This ceiling cannot be exceeded with
any regularity in the absence of large scale supplemental feeding or
planting. In situations where land is leased and not owned, hunters
often have few options available to make major habitat improvements.
In these cases, TDM often requires a re-evaluation of goals and expectations
on the part of deer managers and hunters.
Consistently harvesting bucks with Boone and Crockett scores
ranging from 130 to 135 in an area that has never recorded a buck with
a score over 145 could certainly be considered a success. If expectations
are to harvest 150 to 160 class bucks consistently in this same area,
attempts at TDM will result in frustration and failure. In the latter
example, expectations, not TDM, are incompatible with the existing
habitat conditions.
Another drawback of TDM is increased natural mortality rates
for mature bucks. Competition for available does during the breeding
season is fierce. Many bucks die from fighting injuries and from post
rut stress. Often, mature bucks lose a substantial portion of their body
weight during an intense rutting period. Some of these animals never
recover from the physical stress endured in such a competitive breeding
arena.
Although the principles of TDM are relatively simple, in practice,
this option is a painstaking and intensive process few deer managers
can successfully implement. Total deer densities required under TDM
77