Well does looks dumb when it also looks like does. As in he does work.

At least there is no doubt when I use it the way I do.

You’ll know when you have too many deer. Your plots will be dirt and all green browse will be gone that’s head high on a deer and lower. In my opinion you’re creating an issue that you don’t have. All those spikes will grow into bigger bucks if given a chance. Ask yourself why do most of your better bucks disappear before maturity? Pressure from the forty-eleven members.

Again…just my opinion from the outside looking in. Good luck with your club!

You’re right, to show possession. 🤦‍♂️

Lockjaw I know from your post you must be a good accountant, but the best advice from someone who knows, is next year you and your son kill every deer y’all see and resign your position as president of your club and get the hell away from Shelby county as fast as you can. I live in Shelby county and see them every day in my neighborhood where there is no pressure and they are tame my son in law has killed 3 mature buck on his place in Shelby, but he has a well managed place with 3 guys who don’t shoot anything but mature deer. If your on timber co land in Shelby county you are fighting a battle you will never win unless you lease it yourself and limit the kill. You will find the best places are expensive and they do not allow a lot of people pulling a trigger, not even kids.

Need to thin out the deer population holed up in hundreds of acres of thick unhuntable pines?
Man deer drive in the thick stuff. Well orchestrated, plenty of drivers and flankers. Standers have specific instructions on what to shoot to meet your management goals and what to let pass. Rotate personnel so everyone gets a turn at each role.

Or let me know and I’ll bring some hounds.

The State of Alabama sold 452,400 hunting license in 2021. The State only consists of 33.5 million acres, that also includes all cites and water ways. When you take that in consideration that’s only roughly 73 acres per hunter and way less then that when you consider the less acres the cities and waterways take up, not to mention all the exempt hunters and outlaws that don’t buy licenses. We all say we like to see more kids and young adults get involved in the outdoors me included, but honestly can we afford it ?

This is one of the biggest issues, but you forgot one important part. Your just looking at license sales and forgetting that landowners don’t have to have a hunting license. You can’t find property these days that goes unhunted. If all licensed hunters killed one deer each we would be at half a million.

I did think of that that’s why I said exempt hunters

I asked for why taking some spikes out is a bad idea. I don't think you know squat, except for being a dick about a legit question. Have you ever done what I'm asking about? Do you have any first hand knowledge of taking a property that appears to have more bucks than doe's and correcting it by what I'm asking about? If so tell me that. If not, then I don't need to hear from you.

And just so you know, I've got about $15k in tractor and equipment. I spend about 3k a year over my dues planting and maintaining out here. I do all the tractor work. I brought in 24 tons of AG lime and spread a large portion of it myself by hand. I've reorganized everything out here. The majority of the work out here is done by me.

My question is about a rebalance. Not about a permanent act. I've already said I need less members. I also have guys that are 2 years in I want to retain that haven't shot anything, and if I say hey no killing doe's for a couple years I feel like I need to offer them something. Maybe I don't. But less members means higher dues too.

So if killing everything and quitting is your solution you are just an ass. If I wanted I could have limited out on doe's this year. We have killed 3. We can kill 9. All 3 have been turned in for cwd testing as requested. I'm the only one doing that too. And just so you know, I'm the kind of pres that sets an example and follows the rules and don't take liberty for anything. I'd be an asset to any club.

I'll just go pay for a biologist to consult with me rather than listen to a peanut gallery.

Lockjaw I am not really trying to be a dick but for the life of me I cannot understand your reasoning on killing your small bucks. I must not be the only person on here who does not understand your logic either from the other replies you’ve received on here. And to answer your question about my background, yes I have been involved in managing hunt property. For 8 years I helped manage a nice group of properties totaling around 1800 acres with a small group of friends. Then for 10 years I leased 800 by myself and managed it by myself and that property had more bucks than does but I didn’t allow my customers and guest to run around killing them. Come to think of it in 10 years I only remember 2 11/2 year old bucks being killed which were both first deer for kids one being my daughter and we killed 5-7 mature bucks every year after the first year. Now I own my own places and lease a place with my friend. So yes I feel I know a thing or three about deer and land and farming. I don’t think I know it all and continue to try and listen and learn. And congratulations on your 15k tractor and implements that sure helps when planting time comes around.

Lockjaw, I’ve always liked reading your posts about planting and stuff about your club. I agree with a lot of people on here that your management plan of killing more spikes, or more bucks in general, is not a good plan. Someone gave you the best advice you can get. Leave Shelby county. The land you are hunting I believe runs from 26 back over to joinertown. That area used to be dog hunted I believe and they killed everything that moved for years over there. It’s definitely not one of the better areas of Shelby county. With that being said, the money you’re sinking into that place you could join a really good club that’s already being managed with a lot better numbers of deer. But I get it. Everyone would love to have somewhere close to home that you can be at in less than 30 minutes. But there’s a reason I drive two hours to my club. But I think you’re pissing in the wind trying to make that area better with the number of people you have hunting and the management plan you keep talking about implementing. My opinion and it may or may not be worth a crap. Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Was that total license sales or actual big game license?

Total license sales

Thank you justhunt i tried to tell lockjaw what I would do and I got called a dick that doesn’t know anything. I’m very familiar with timber co land in Shelby county from my turkey hunting days.

That’s what I was thinking. That throws your math off on the acreage. I have 4 myself when you add the regular, baiting, WMA, and nighttime.

I’m familiar with the area he hunts and it’s not something I would be sinking thousands of my own dollars into. But to each their own. He’s been given a lot of solid advice about managing his club. You can only share your opinion and tell people what you’ve experienced. I wish him well in whatever direction he chooses to go

I'm not going back and reading all this who wants to kill spikes so theyll have better hunting?

Killing small bucks is ALWAYS a bad idea if you want to shoot big bucks. If you are a meat hunter and don’t care about big bucks, fire away!! I do not judge anyone for shooting what makes you happy.

Just ask a wildlife biologist what to do. Contact Auburn university and see what they say.