Kentucky Hunter Whitetail Deer

Trophy Whitetail Deer are no more elusive for  hunters than does of the same age. But in Kentucky hunters rarely see trophy quality Deer.  Trophy quality Deer are seldom seen by Kentucky hunters because there aren't many of them. Antlerless Deer outnumber antlered Deer at least 2 to 1. When the Whitetail harvest is heavy, the ratio of antlered Deer can drop to 20 to 1 or less, and only about 5 percent of the antlered Deer have trophy racks. 

As a result hunters may have to view 400 Deer before they see a trophy 170 point or better rack in Kentucky.   That requires a long time sitting in a tree stand and quality land.  Almost all of the Whitetail Deer taken in Kentucky are only 2-3 years old.   Whitetail Deer do not mature into trophy Deer until they are 5-9 years old.  The reason why hunters don't see and take more trophy Deer in Kentucky is because we fail to allow them to mature into quality Deer and fail to take does.  

By hunting does you increase the Whitetail to doe ratio.  Taking a doe also seems to lessen Whitetail fever.  There was a time when only Whitetails were taken in season.  We now understand that quality Deer herd management requires that does are taken at least equally with the Whitetails.   When we take only trophy Whitetails and take Whitetails too early from the herd we decrease the trophy population and increase the doe to Whitetail ratio which negatively effects the herds in the long run.   

Elk Kentucky Hunting  Whitetail Deer Mule Deer