Coulda.... shoulda....didnt

This guy was 4.5 this past year.... had lots of pics of him when he showed up in november, and I mistakenly assumed he had broken off one side. Consequently, he was considered a 'buck of choice' and several people had opportunities at him but elected to pass. I feel pretty comfortable in this pic saying he just never grew his left side... perhaps related to an injury affecting his left eye as well? Regardless, I'd be floored if he grows a left side next year, so he'll be on the cull list.

Sent from my SCH-R970X using Tapatalk

That face looks like a boxers after a twelve round title bout, ouch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

megalomaniac":3ffp7cku said:

This guy was 4.5 this past year.... had lots of pics of him when he showed up in november, and I mistakenly assumed he had broken off one side. Consequently, he was considered a 'buck of choice' and several people had opportunities at him but elected to pass. I feel pretty comfortable in this pic saying he just never grew his left side... perhaps related to an injury affecting his left eye as well? Regardless, I'd be floored if he grows a left side next year, so he'll be on the cull list.

Sent from my SCH-R970X using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

I would have culled him this year .. but that's just me .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

would you have shot him if you only had a 1 buck limit?

megalomaniac":2m0kazdn said:

would you have shot him if you only had a 1 buck limit?

Click to expand...

This is where I have a real problem with them imposing the Two Buck limit . It forces hunters to make a choice between doing the ethical and right thing vs doing the sporting thing .

Two distinct categories I understand .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why would it be more 'ethical' or 'right' to shoot this deer versus any other deer? He looks healthy and fat, and I'm sure had a wonderful fall rut breeding (and hopefully passing on 10 pt genetics to his progeny )

Under my rules, everybody gets 1 buck of choice. you pick it, I don't care if you shoot a 1.5 y/o spike or a 150" 8 ptr. Once your buck is shot, you're done for the season... unless we have a 'cull'... each person can also shoot 1 cull yearly. Most years we don't have a 'cull', but some years we do. A 'cull' (MY land, MY rules, MY definition ) is a mature buck (4.5 or older) with a rack that most adults hunting my farms wouldn't shoot as their 'buck of choice'. Rather than let him die of old age and consume food resources annually over the next 4 or 5 years, I'll put those deer on the 'cull' list just to give hunters who may have already shot their 'buck of choice' an additional opportunity to hunt my properties.

He's been rode hard and put up wet!

Found a pic of him from the 2015 season when he was 3.5

Sent from my SCH-R970X using Tapatalk

Docpoco... taking this deer out is like picking your tomatoes when they are ripe. They won't get any riper next year, and will probably just rot. I'm not as concerned about the extra resources other deer will get to eat as much as I'm concerned about him fighting with the other bucks and potentially injuring them or breaking other bucks racks off.

Sent from my SCH-R970X using Tapatalk

docpoco":rmav4jh8 said:

megalomaniac":rmav4jh8 said:

Docpoco... taking this deer out is like picking your tomatoes when they are ripe. They won't get any riper next year, and will probably just rot. I'm not as concerned about the extra resources other deer will get to eat as much as I'm concerned about him fighting with the other bucks and potentially injuring them or breaking other bucks racks off.

Sent from my SCH-R970X using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

But... isn't that a concern with ANY buck? Besides that, his ability to fight with one rack broken off probably makes him a non-threat to the other bucks. I bet he gets his butt kicked without a left antler to protect that side of his face.

Based on the 10 point frame it seems as though he is doing more good than harm by passing along the genes for a 5x5 rack.

I would venture that taking this deer out will have 0 overall impact, either positive or negative on the herd, so it makes no biological sense to use a tag on him unless you just really want to kill him.

Click to expand...

somebody who hunts his farm might really want to kill him


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had one like that a few years back that did actually grow a straight beam the next year 12 inches long.....then the year after 13 or so inches long with a small fork...............should have shot it in year one..........never saw it again.

Beat up face