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Cull Bucks
- Thread starter boot
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Its not really about the number of points as much as it's about them being on the smaller end of the scale for bucks of that age. As Steve has pointed out and is true for us, we need to remove a certain # of deer each year to control #'s. If I only took does I would cut so deep that it would negatively effect recruitment. So for that reason as well as keeping the B/D ratio in line I remove a certain number of bucks every year. We start at 4 yrs old and remove the smaller end of the spectrum leaving the best ones to fully mature.
Otghuntingclub
Member
Great thread! Good civil discussion with lots of good info to digest. Thanks to all.
farmhunter
Well-Known Member
I love this stuff too, I see most everyone agreeing in general - with debatable specifics, which I think is healthy discussion. On my farm no deer is ever a cull buck, no matter his genetics or situation. Its all about getting the heard to the next age level for me. this may sound simple - but we are not trophy hunters, and we want to be happy,proud and pleased with our harvest! We've found that regardless of score, an older buck taken does this for us quite well.
On to specifics - If a buck has been hurt and has an antler defect - to me - he's just as capable of passing on superb genes as is his doe mate!
So, if that buck won't make me happy to harvest - I'm happy to have him stay on for another year or more. Also - I feel the same with mercy killing - lots of guys feel better if they take a wounded deer, but in my experience, if a deer lives more than a couple days after a major injury - he could make it, and if he doesn't meet my goals - I let him walk. Sure there are obvious examples, of deer that need to be taken out and that is different. Should a buck come limping on by me - that doesn't meet my goals - he walks - and I hope for him to make it,
On to specifics - If a buck has been hurt and has an antler defect - to me - he's just as capable of passing on superb genes as is his doe mate!
So, if that buck won't make me happy to harvest - I'm happy to have him stay on for another year or more. Also - I feel the same with mercy killing - lots of guys feel better if they take a wounded deer, but in my experience, if a deer lives more than a couple days after a major injury - he could make it, and if he doesn't meet my goals - I let him walk. Sure there are obvious examples, of deer that need to be taken out and that is different. Should a buck come limping on by me - that doesn't meet my goals - he walks - and I hope for him to make it,
Took this one out because he was ugly ... and taking up too much space. Turns out his right eye (left as you look at him) was abscessed .. probably because he had been fighting. Made me even more pleased that I removed him from my woods.
If you look closely, right below his eye (2") there is a break in the skin; of course I couldn't see that at 6:45am
If you look closely, right below his eye (2") there is a break in the skin; of course I couldn't see that at 6:45am
Cutman back to your question about culling on # of points. Here is an 8 pt ...would you cull him for that? I had this buck walk by me in the woods a couple yrs. ago an thought him ~170 [ he was 8 then too ]. We never saw him last yr on
camera , summer or hunting. Glad to see him back and with his age someone might get lucky.
camera , summer or hunting. Glad to see him back and with his age someone might get lucky.
Blizzard Ridge
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't call him a "cull" but I would definitely call him a shooter. Good example of what nutrition and age can do for a deer.
mthornton99
Member
That ain't no 8 pointer, don't you see that one just above his left eye? That's what we call a "non-typical 9pt" around here. 
Nope, I wouldn't cull him based on being an 8 pointer, mainly because I don't believe in culling.
I only asked about YOU shooting that previous buck because I didn't know if you personally were trying to promote 10+ main frames over 8 pointers. I've seen a few property managers (in person and on tv) that target 8 pointers as cull bucks. Now that I think of it, it seems like that might be a Texas thing.
Beautiful buck.
Blizzard Ridge
Well-Known Member
I call him non-typical because the typical 8 point does not reach 170" That extra point is just bonus bone
That extra point is just bonus boneNope, I wouldn't cull him based on being an 8 pointer, mainly because I don't believe in culling.
I only asked about YOU shooting that previous buck because I didn't know if you personally were trying to promote 10+ main frames over 8 pointers. I've seen a few property managers (in person and on tv) that target 8 pointers as cull bucks. Now that I think of it, it seems like that might be a Texas thing.
Beautiful buck.
Yes, I think there is a common theme about removing 8 pts to promote 10 pt frames. Studies have shown that doesn't work in the long run as 8 pts start popping back up whenever the 'culling' stops. The gene pool is very deep. I only use this buck as an example to show that we focus on overall frame not points when making decisions on bucks to remove. That said if he walks by me again this year...
Dennis Duffy
Active Member
Here is a mature six point that we were thinking of shooting last year. Everyone that had a chance at him let him walk. Now here he is again this year with basically the same rack (maybe a little wider). I don't see why it doesn't make sense to cull him being he is not gonna be much better than what he currently is. If anything he will probably start going down hill soon. But why not get him out of the gene pool if killing big bucks is what your after? I realize it takes a lot more than culling some bucks to increase your chances at bigger bucks but to me every little bit helps. He is probably not gonna get a free pass this year if he walks in front of me as I really think he needs to go! HE is known as AKA Droopy because of his crippled right ear! 
Dennis Duffy
Active Member
Another pic of old droopy! 
boot
Active Member
If you're happy shooting him then by all means shoot him. In this specific case yea if he's dead he can't bred, thus no more of those genes, however its pretty much impossible outside of a controlled environment to eradicate what some might see as "inferior" genes. So yes he won't have bucks with his specific genes running around next spring if you plug him but you also won't have picture perfect Boone and Crocket deer on your property because of it.
Dennis Duffy
Active Member
I don't understand how shooting this (Older) buck will keep me from having picture perfect Booners on my property?? I am not saying I am right or wrong here i just want to see it differently than I currently do. Here is a pic of one on the Property that i would much rather be breeding than him. 
Dennis Duffy
Active Member
Yeah you are right on the things you listed above. Unfortunately I have 114 acres and my neighbor has 36. So its hard to control to much when your only talking 150 acres combined. But hey the genetics in Western KY. where my farm is are much better than Western PA. where my home is. But i will say since the antler restrictions here in PA. there has been an incredible difference in quality of deer! So letting them walk does pay off for sure!!!
Duffy a couple of thoughts to consider. Age is always your friend for having better bucks. The odds of growing B&C bucks on 150 acres are low...happens but it is a bit like lightening in a bottle. Whether you shoot either of the bucks you posted will have make no difference except those bucks won't be there anymore. Do what you like.That said I see nothing in ole droopy that suggest maturity. In fact looks young to me. Will he grow to be a giant ? Probably not. Will he get bigger with age? Probably.
This buck would probably be considered a "Cullbuck", since it's and old buck and his rack is a mess.
The buck had tags in his ears!
I harvested the buck in 2014 and reported the tags to the Missouri Department of Conservation. I was told that the deer escaped confinement from a deer farm during the ice storm of 2007, making the buck at least 7.5. The deer farm raised bucks with magnificent racks, which this buck would have grown a massive rack in confinement where there was little stress and a high protein diet. I'm thankful that this buck contributed to the local gene pool. In this buck's case age, an injured hoof and drought conditions created his rack, but his genetics were the best money could buy!
The buck had tags in his ears!
I harvested the buck in 2014 and reported the tags to the Missouri Department of Conservation. I was told that the deer escaped confinement from a deer farm during the ice storm of 2007, making the buck at least 7.5. The deer farm raised bucks with magnificent racks, which this buck would have grown a massive rack in confinement where there was little stress and a high protein diet. I'm thankful that this buck contributed to the local gene pool. In this buck's case age, an injured hoof and drought conditions created his rack, but his genetics were the best money could buy!
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Shoot that one buck and keep him from breeding yet you already have his genetics in the herd going back a dozen or more generations in the inherent both the doe and buck gene pool. No affect on open range whatsoever. You are not a product of your parents, or grandparents, etc , but a complex product of many generations of gene pool supplements contributed by your ancestors.
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