Howdy,
I could'nt figure out how to send a private message so I'll ask here and hope you find it.
I have followed your posts here for several years with intrest as I also hunt in south Tx. First off I would to commend you on the success of whatever management plan you have implemented on your ranch as it is evident by the pictures you have posted of the trophy bucks you have killed, the caliber of some of the deer you are culling, and the younger deer you have photographed. (It won't hurt my feelings if you post more pictures by the way.)I have a few questions for you that will probably lead to lots more questions.
Do you conduct helicopter surveys and browse surveys on your ranch and if so, How much faith do you put in the data and harvest recommendations generated from these surveys?
We have conducted two helicopter surveys (required for MLD) this year (end of Oct. and early Feb.) and the deer census based on these surveys do not even remotely come close to the numbers of deer we see and make notes about and video while hunting. However, the "well known" state biologist is confident that he is seeing 50 percent of the deer from the helicopter and bases his harvest recommendations on this data. This biologist has not even taken the time to drive through the pastures to look at the brush and available browse, so we have also just recently had a different group of biologists (one of which is also well known) come to the ranch and conduct a browse survey. The deer census based on the results of the browse survey is in great contrast to the data from the helicopter survey, but is far more cosistant with the number of animals we see while hunting. I would like to hear your opinion of the accuracy of these surveys and also how you determine your deer census and the number of animals to harvest.
Like I said, this may lead to lots more questions.
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

We conduct an annual helicopter survey each year in the fall. To date we haven't done a browse survey. We also do stand counts.

The helicopter survey to me is a good tool to keep track of trends regarding overall numbers. It takes a couple of years before you get a real handle on what percentage of deer you are seeing from the helicopter. You can only guess the first couple of years as to what that percentage might be. That is why I think it is important to conduct several different census counts. After a few years you will have enough data to see some trends develope. As always the more data the better.

We supplemental feed with protein and cottonseed so I would think that a browse survey would not show a clear picture. I like to do stand counts. We do a count three times during October and three times during Novemeber from each stand. When you determine what you think is the peak movement period you do a quick count. This works the best in my opinion since the deer are not usually aware of being observed. Although it's probably not the best way to check overall numbers it is about the best method to check herd composition. I have found that the fawn crop seen from the helicopter is almost always a good bit less than the stand counts.

We are currently using a private biologist for the first time this year. We used a state biologist the previous two years. In all fairness to the state biologist they are stretched so far and wide with the MLD program that it is very hard for them to spend any quality time with a landowner or group of hunters. I also think that the private biologist is more likely to "take off the gloves" to allow the culling needed for a good management program.

The private biologist this year doubled our buck permits so we really hammered the management bucks. We made a big effort to kill every eight point or less, 3.5 year or older buck we could find. And we did it before the rut. We laid off the spikes and does until after the rut because you will get a "spike shuffle" during this period. The spikes during the first year will move a long distance to establish their home territories. My thinking is if we shoot them early we a doing it for the neighbors and then after the rut we have to start all over again.

Our buck/doe ratio this year showed that we actually had more bucks then does so we are killing a few more bucks then does. I had an old biologist tell me that when you really have to hunt hard to kill a doe that you have taken the proper amount of them. Although totally unscientific that seems to be pretty good advice.

Thanks for the reply and as I figured it leads to more questions or requests for your input.
First off I want to correct myself, the biologist that has done the surveys is a well known "state approved biologist" and not a biologist employed by TPWD.
Now I don't even know where to begin..........
I really like the idea of doing deer counts on the stand at designated times by the hunters as I believe that you will get a much better picture of the overall numbers and ratios of the deer. Do you only count for a set period of time on a given stand setting?
My doubts regarding the counts and recommendations we have gotten from the helicopter surveys result from the "biologist" recommending we shoot cull bucks which are 8 pts., 3.5 yrs and older as well as spikes and NO DOES because deer numbers are low (according to the helicopter) however the buck/doe ratio was good. I feel we need to at a minimum harvest an equal number of does as bucks. We have not killed any of the very top end bucks (160"+)to allow them to breed and only very few old (6.5+) year old bucks scoring in the 150" range. Almost all efforts have been directed for the last four years at targeting the cull bucks and does until the biologist came on board and said to stop shooting does but stay on the cull bucks. I am all for killing the cull bucks and every spike seen, but I believe you need to follow this with an equal number of does.
This bringsto mind another question. You mentioned the "spike shuffle" and I certainly am in no place to question your management scheme, but why not shoot every spike on sight as opposed to letting them go to the neighbors and grow up, breed does, and either come back as a cull or send their offspring back to you during the "spike shuffle" in a few years. It seems to me that even if they leave early in the season and establish a home territory in the neighbors, there is high probability of them or their offspring returning later unless the neighbors are managing hard as well.
We also feed protein and cottonseed but it is not "free choice" in all areas as feed pens are not hog proof. The ranch hands feed pelleted protein on the senderos approx. daily or every other day (in a.m.) during antler growing season as well as it is available in free choice feeders. By feeding the roads we are hoping to target some deer that may be feeder or pen shy. The cottonseed is also fed free choice in wire rings.
I don't mean to question your beliefs or management ideas but am only looking for some informative interactive feedback. You mentioned that you feed supplemental protein and cottonseed and that a browse survey may not be accurate, however, if your supplemental feed is truly "supplemental" to the available browse and vegetation, a browse survey should identify the percentage of the #1 and #2 etc. plants available to your deer, as long as you are in the belief that deer will eat the available good browse over pelleted feed from a feeder.

Crap, I gotta go.
It's valentines and the old hide aint finding me typing about more deer "stuff" too amusing right now. Thanks again for any input and I look forward to more interaction with you.