I happened to win ‘it big’ in this year’s MNR lottery for doe tags. Actually, they are called anterless deer tags and they allow you to hunt deer of same category – this means deer without antlers or that have antlers less than 7.5 cm (3 inches) in length.

I have often wondered why these tag ‘seem’ so hard to get. I can count on one hand the number of times I have ever had with my name on it. Statistically speaking, they really are not that rare to many Ontario hunters. Last year’s information released by the MNR indicated that 69% of the hunters that applied for one were successful.

Those are good odds.

So, what’s the deal with a doe hunt anyway? Why do biologists allow us to hunt a certain percentage of the ‘ladies’ in the deer herds? After some varied google search results, it appears that it comes down to the reproductive power of the does. If a doe breeds this fall and has twins the following spring there will be triple the deer joining the herd. This is good if herds are small. It is bad if the province’s/state’s deer herds are near carrying capacity.

Bill Jensen, in an article titled, “The Science of Doe Hunting“, says that:

“We need to get a good doe harvest in order to control deer populations … it’s as simple as that,” he said. “And if hunters are not doing that, if they are not helping in the process of harvesting does, they are not fostering sound deer management.”

The Institute of Ecosystem Studies shares that data collected in their studies is demonstrating to hunters the importance of doe management. They say that,

“Hunters learn that doe culling is integral to stabilizing deer populations and that hunting females does not result in fewer opportunities to take a buck, a long-held tradition for most hunters.”

Sure, it’s nice to bag a big buck, but consider being a bigger part of deer herd management and apply for an anterless deer tag next year.

Deer Hunting, Muskoka Outdoors, Ontario Hunting, Wildlife Management