What's a young buck like you doing playing on a computer at 9:00 on a friday night? That's for old farts who are getting ready to go to bed.

ORIGINAL: SilverKype

ORIGINAL: deerfly

In 2001 our adult breeding B/D ratio was 1:2.1 and there hasn't been a problem with the B/D ratio for at least 30 years.

I'd like to see some data on that. 

Here is a link to data from 1983. Note that most ratios were better than 1:2.

http://www.fortgrundsow.com/PGN1984NovDeerPop10-11.jpg

Some interesting pics here.   http://www.fortgrundsow.com/Cook3.html
 
If rhododendron is heavily browsed, I gotta think there's some issues.

The article clearly states that the ratios are the adult PS B/D ratio. Since in 1983 we were harvesting 80% of our PS buck it would be impossible to have an adult OW B/D ratio of 1:2.

Here is another interesting quote from the report.

"However, there is currently no consensus on
what “a healthy and functioning forest
ecosystem” means quantitatively.
Furthermore, “desirable” species is
ambiguous; perhaps what is meant is native
species appropriate to specific site conditions.
In order for coordinated, forward progress to state forest system and how they translate into
quantitative management objectives need to be
clarified first, because they are the foundation
for everything else. D.C.N.R. management staff—in
collaboration with scientists and other
stakeholders—need to define what the target
ecosystems should look like and how they
should function, and then link those
qualitative goals with quantitative objectives. "

ORIGINAL: deerfly

ORIGINAL: SilverKype

The slide shot (pic 3)

http://www.fortgrundsow.com/AS.html

...explaining in 2002 there were 15 button bucks per adult buck.   Two years after AR, it was 2 buttons per adult.  I would like to see how this was determined.

And if its true, it certainly shows how much ratios have improved.

Capture rates do not reflect the true ratios in the population.

 
Alot depends.   It can be a good reflection on what is happening.    

ORIGINAL: S-10

Rhododendron
The rhododendron provides a regular food source for deer and other large mammals in areas where it is found. This medium-sized shrub blooms in the spring, producing lavender to pink-colored flowers, providing a good source of spring food. Deer will also browse on its twigs and buds. Deer damage will vary from occasional to severe, depending upon the variety

 
Why are you posting this ?   You always talk about how much experience I don't have and how much you do.   Rhododendron is browsed heavily by deer in only the most severe winters... it is not a prefered source of food. (well, in good habitat it is not).  

What Flowers Draw Deer?
Contributor
By Chris Dinesen Rogers, eHow Contributing Writer
.
pink tulip image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
Tulips are one of many garden plants that will attract deer.Deer are opportunistic animals. When searching for food, deer prefer plants that taste good and have high nutritious value. Surprisingly, deer have a definite sweet tooth, preferring sweet-tasting flowers and fruits. If your garden includes fruit-bearing trees such as cherry or plum, you are sure to have deer in your garden. Flowers and fruits are the most nutritious parts of a plant; it is no wonder that deer would be attracted to them.
Hostas
A garden with hostas is likely to attract deer. These low-growing plants make for easy forage. Deer will eat all parts of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and flowers. Since they are perennial plants, deer may rely on hostas as a reliable food source. Rutger University classified hostas as a plant that is frequently severely damaged by deer.
Rhododendron
The rhododendron provides a regular food source for deer and other large mammals in areas where it is found. This medium-sized shrub blooms in the spring, producing lavender to pink-colored flowers, providing a good source of spring food. Deer will also browse on its twigs and buds. Deer damage will vary from occasional to severe, depending upon the variety.
Clover
There are many varieties of clover from the low-growing Alsike clover to the bushy yellow clover. The sweet flowers appeal to a deer's desire for sweet-tasting plants. These plants typically grow in open areas and on forest edges, which tend to be easily accessible for deer and include other types of plants that deer prefer such as dogwood and other shrubs. Clover is often planted as a food plot plant by wildlife managers to attract deer, as identified by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. In the garden, low-growing species of clover can also be planted as a ground cover. Be aware however, that clover can be very invasive and may escape into other areas of your garden.
Crown Vetch
Crown vetch is a non-native perennial, frequently used for erosion control. It is also used in mine reclamation areas. It is a highly nutritious legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. To fix nitrogen in the soil, this plant is able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. It acts like a natural fertilizer. Like clover, it is a common food plot plant, often used by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and other wildlife managers. Deer enjoy the sweet-tasting flowers. In the garden, it can be used as an attractive ground cover. Like clover, crown vetch can be invasive and out-compete other garden plants.
Hydrangea
Deer will feed on hydrangea shrubs and vines. Most parts of the plant are palatable to deer, including the twigs, buds and flowers of hydrangea. Most shrub species are low-growing, making for easy access and foraging. Rutgers University identifies hydrangeas as plants that are occasionally severely damaged by deer.
Tulips
If you have tulips in your garden, you will have deer in the spring. Deer like the nutritious tulip flowers, often digging into the ground for the equally nutritious bulbs. Spring can be a difficult time for wildlife, making spring-blooming plants especially vulnerable to winter-stressed wildlife. This is another plant that will experience frequent, severe damage by deer.

You still have a lot to learn Heck, even I learn things as a result of the computer age. I've learned the hard way on what deer eat by my living in the country.

ORIGINAL: S-10

 I've learned the hard way on what deer eat by my living in the country.

 
I didn't learn the hard way.   Deer consistently pass on rhododendron where I hunt.   The surrounding habitat must interest them more.   They walk right thru it.  New cuts a human can't get thru, white & rock oak, oak regen is what interests them.   Like I originally said, it they are hitting rhododendron, there may be other issues, never said they don't eat it.  I got over 15 white oaks on my property and good regen.   Guess what, three rhododendron too.  Never touched.  Even two of the three have pink flowers on them now. 

I'm not wrong s-10.  You try REALLY hard however.  You posted rhododendron is a regular food source.   I said "If rhododendron is heavily browsed, I gotta think there's some issues."
 
..and this part of your post proves my point.  >>
 
"Deer like Rhododendron but like some other foods better, It depends on what is available in the area they are in."
 
A deer starving and a severe winter are also two different things.
 
Good day. 
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: SilverKype

The slide shot (pic 3)

http://www.fortgrundsow.com/AS.html

...explaining in 2002 there were 15 button bucks per adult buck.   Two years after AR, it was 2 buttons per adult.  I would like to see how this was determined.

And if its true, it certainly shows how much ratios have improved.

If ARs protected 80K buck in 2002 that would be less than 2 buck PSM. So, are you claiming BB recruitment decreased that much in 2 years to account for the change in the capture ratio, because the change certainly wasn't the result of the increase in adult buck.

ORIGINAL: deerfly

ORIGINAL: SilverKype

The slide shot (pic 3)

http://www.fortgrundsow.com/AS.html

...explaining in 2002 there were 15 button bucks per adult buck.   Two years after AR, it was 2 buttons per adult.  I would like to see how this was determined.

And if its true, it certainly shows how much ratios have improved.

If ARs protected 80K buck in 2002 that would be less than 2 buck PSM. So, are you claiming BB recruitment decreased that much in 2 years to account for the change in the capture ratio, because the change certainly wasn't the result of the increase in adult buck.

 
What happened from 2002 - 2004 in PA, deerfly ?
 
Doe were hammered.

The change from 2.1 to 1.9 is the same area capturing was recorded ?  Using a statewide ratio change versus an immediate area of capture ratio could be inaccurate.