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Buck/Doe Ratio:

A buck to doe ratio of 1:1 to 1:3 is acceptable. A balanced ratio will ensure a healthy rut meaning that only the strongest bucks will breed does.

A ratio of higher than three does for every antlered buck will have adverse effects on the herd including:

1. Inferior bucks will participate in the breeding season

2. The breeding season will be longer

3. Bucks will enter the winter with their energy reserves in a more depleted state than normal, and will find it harder to survive a rough winter

4. Those that do manage to survive the winter will start the antler growth season will depleted nutritional reserves and thus are likely to grow smaller antlers than their potential.