THA4
A Few Steps Ahead Of You
Great post so far!! this one belongs in the Mature Bucks forum i think! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
another misconception about "genetically inferrior" bucks is to shoot spikes.
in truth, a spike is a late born fawn that had to put much of its energy during his first year into maintaining and growing his body in order to stay alive. his first set of antlers "got the short end of the stick" and did not recieve any extra nutrition to develope as all "extra" protien was needed else where.
it is a known fact that a spike buck has the potential to become a B&C with quality genetics. I do however think that a spike buck has lesser genetics and will most likely never become a super monster, but could definatly become a very impressive animal in the future!
i agree that if you are managing your herd and are trying to avoid shooting up and comers and are shooting genetically inferrior MATURE bucks, you need to wait till they are at least 3.5 before pulling the trigger. 4.5 might be the absolute best age to make a decision without question.
i think this has been mentioned, but shooting enough does and maintaining an efficient buck to doe ratio will do your herd more good than shooting a "cull deer".
having said that, im all about shooting what makes you happy!! (obviously /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif ) but when the day comes and i have property that i can manage, you can rest assured i will be doing my best to help build and maintain a quality deer herd by shooting lots of does and letting bucks grow old!!
good stuff!!
/forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
another misconception about "genetically inferrior" bucks is to shoot spikes.
in truth, a spike is a late born fawn that had to put much of its energy during his first year into maintaining and growing his body in order to stay alive. his first set of antlers "got the short end of the stick" and did not recieve any extra nutrition to develope as all "extra" protien was needed else where.
it is a known fact that a spike buck has the potential to become a B&C with quality genetics. I do however think that a spike buck has lesser genetics and will most likely never become a super monster, but could definatly become a very impressive animal in the future!
i agree that if you are managing your herd and are trying to avoid shooting up and comers and are shooting genetically inferrior MATURE bucks, you need to wait till they are at least 3.5 before pulling the trigger. 4.5 might be the absolute best age to make a decision without question.
i think this has been mentioned, but shooting enough does and maintaining an efficient buck to doe ratio will do your herd more good than shooting a "cull deer".
having said that, im all about shooting what makes you happy!! (obviously /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif ) but when the day comes and i have property that i can manage, you can rest assured i will be doing my best to help build and maintain a quality deer herd by shooting lots of does and letting bucks grow old!!
good stuff!!
/forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif