Herd Composition data (often called incidental observations) may be the most valuable data collected on a deer herd.  When properly collected, herd composition data can reflect the overall health of a herd and help guide the manager in making proper harvest recommendations.

Herd composition data should be collected during August.  The fawns have become a part of the herd by this time, yet they are small enough to be easily distinguished from adult deer.  Observations outside this period may result in inaccurate data.  Observations may be collected any time during the day.  However, the first and last hours of daylight are often the most productive for deer seen per hour of effort.  Observations should not be collected at night because it is too difficult to correctly identify sex and size.

All deer recorded must be viewed through binoculars or a spotting scope. Small antlers are easily overlooked without optical aids.  Fawns whose spots have started to fade are also hard to distinguish when they are observed alone.  Be sure to look at the hips of deer that you think could possibly be fawns because the hips are the last place to lose spots.

When observing deer in herds it is important that each deer be identified.  If a herd of six deer is seen but only four are positively identified, do not record any of the deer.  If there are two bucks, three does, and one fawn in a herd, you may easily identify the bucks but may not be sure of the other four unless they are all individually identified.  When a herd is seen, quickly get a total head count, then go back and positively identify bucks first because they are easiest, then identify fawns, and finally, identify the does making sure not to miss small antlered bucks.

Collect as many samples as you can.  A minimum of 1 deer per 5 acres should be identified. If possible, a larger sample size is desirable to strengthen the data and increase the confidence in the harvest recommendations.  Observations can be made during routine ranch operations or as a special effort.  Observing the same deer recorded on a previous count is not a concern.  If a conscientious effort is made to record accurate data, a small amount of duplicate recording should not affect the ratio.  All deer should be recorded as a buck, doe, or fawn.  Recording bucks according to number of antler points is also beneficial.  The occurrence of spikes versus multi-point animals is a good indication of the nutrition available.

Herd composition data should be in my office by September 4, 1999.
Either mail to the address below or drop in mailbox at my office.

Gene Rees
304 South LaGrange
Hallettsville, Tx 77964