to cull or not to cull

[BSK]

i was really wondering, is he always going to be a unicorn? he's been on several of my cameras for months, so I'm pretty certain he's never had two. a cull deer at 3.5 or 1.5 is still a cull deer in my eyes.

I can see in the picture that he at least has a pedicle on the missing-antler side, so there is the possibility he will grow normally paired antlers in the futre. Some bucks do not develop a pedicle on one side, hence are destined to always have only one antler.

 

[StalkingWolf]

pass

 

[Stumpy]

The only way to have old mature bucks is to pass the young deer. really no way to tell what this guy will do in another 3 years unless he lives.

 

[Dbllunger]

I would not shoot this deer. Way to young. Let him grow a few more years at least to see what happens.

 

[Phil1979]

Let him go.

 

[TheLBLman]

I would only shoot him if I considered him to be a "trophy" buck (to me). Prefer to eat does, so main reason I take bucks is for antlers (although I do eat the buck venison as well).

Many people consider ANY antlered buck a "trophy", so if he's a trophy to you (and legal), have at it. Just don't complain about there being no larger antlered bucks around when you shoot them before they can grow larger antlers. Regarding that particular 1-horned buck depicted above, he's only a yearling, and he will very likely have what most hunters consider a "large" rack should he live to 4 1/2 or older. If he doesn't, he'll be a trophy to me because he's an "older" buck, even if he then just has one gigantic spike on his head. But right now, he's first and foremost a yearling buck.

IMO, CULLING is just an excuse to kill a particular buck that doesn't meet the standards of one's peers, while the hunter doing the "culling" actually considers that particular buck a trophy.

 

[rem270]

no way id shoot

 

[W.Seay]

No way for me, he would have 2 years, maybe even 3 before I even considered killed him

X2

 

[Beekeeper]

"Culling" does nothing but remove a deer from the population. You ABSOLUTELY CANNOT "improve antler genetics" by culling.

What he says.

 

[Tikkabuck]

Na let the little guy eat some.

 

[Columbia Scott]

Last year I had one that looked just like that follow me to the stand then lie down beneath me until I walked out for the evening. I shut him behind a gate to keep him from following me. Pass.

 

[buckhorn40]

Let him walk!

 

[HOOK]

There is no such thing as a cull buck....you either shoot it or your don't....

 

[redblood]

the only thing he has working against him is youth. let him stroll

 

[Football Hunter]

Hes just a baby

yep

 

[Football Hunter]

BSK how do you improve antler genetics?

Haul in a WHOLE bunch of dirt from western KY!

 

[DeerKiller2012]

thats a yearling , but if it's a trophy to you, bust him.

 

[LA man]

let him walk

 

[Tar12]

If you have ever seen or watched any of the studies done you would not pull the trigger just yet. It was amazing to me to see what a so called"cull" could turn into.

 

[DaveB]

Make a nice sandwhich, that's about all that's there, he doesn't even go wuff, he prolly has a lisp and goes fffff. Bit young I'd say. Maybe born early this year, those east side things start really early, so's I heard tell.