I think it would be neat if some of you with large properties and lots of cameras could post some pics of bucks you want to call and maybe even post some pointers on why you are choosing them. I'm all for shooting cull bucks. IN fact that is what I primarily went for this year on our small property. Just trying to spark a little deeper dive into what is probably an under utilized tactic and maybe some good pointers on what to look for from the guys with larger herds.
I think taking out mature deer that aren't going to score what you want to personally shoot are way more important to get off a farm than most realize. I wouldn't consider any of my farms large but I certainly target the less desirable racked bucks that are mature when they are in range. Makes room for another deer to take up his bedding space, and sooner or later it will be a buck you want to keep on the farm.
Here are a few no brainer ones that come to mind over the last couple years. 3 out of 4 of these we were able to get off the farms and help for the following year.
Here are a few no brainer ones that come to mind over the last couple years. 3 out of 4 of these we were able to get off the farms and help for the following year.
smithhunter1975
Active Member
A few examples from this year. Top 2 pics… see at bottom the harvest pic. He was like 6-7. One other is no longer with us. I will imagine the rest & a few others will no longer be with us very soon. Be a happy hunter & some deer sticks with fun memories in the future.
Those are some great examples. We only have 30 acres but there are a lot of bucks. Not very many mature bucks though so it's tough to know which ones to thin out. The younger bucks are hard to know which ones will be nice.
That's what we've been doing. I have a lot of deer bedding on it. Adding a few acres of RC switch grass next spring. I've found 4 dead deer in the last year though. 3 years ago would have sometimes double digits does, the last 2 years have only been 3-5,so this will be the 2nd year in a row we don't take a doe off it. It's surrounded by 1600 acres on 2 sides so I'm obviously a very small piece of the herd pie but will always rather not fill my tag than shoot does with a stressed herd or a young buck.
Nrharris
PMA Member
I went back through my pictures and found a picture of him in 21 too
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
I must be an idiot. I just can’t figure out what the heck a cull buck is. I thought we were all trying to create a healthy age class and that had nothing to do with antler score because only the oldest of bucks are able to pass on the hardiest of whitetail genes and make sure the does are bred in time. I’ve heard this healthy age class was of the upmost importance to insuring the future of our herd. Anybody care to put an age and minimum/maximum antler score on what a cull buck actually is??
northcedar
Well-Known Member
Usually it means removing a bully buck that has less than optimal antler growth so as to make room for different, younger deer that may or may not become something great. Most guys understand you're not actually culling to improve a wild herd's genetics.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Ahh. Thanks! So it really does just have to do with antler potential. Really nothing to do with overall heard health. I kind of assumed that but I always hear about how age is the true trophy and blah blah blah and we have to manage for age cuz of heard health and all that. That makes sense! Thank you!
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Big 4.5 YO. Dominant buck on our farm.
Passed him at 3.5 last year as a 7 point, curious how he would change.. Guess I got my answer. Same frame but lost a point..
Thankfully the neighbor just shot him last week
Passed him at 3.5 last year as a 7 point, curious how he would change.. Guess I got my answer. Same frame but lost a point..
Thankfully the neighbor just shot him last week
Buckscrape
Well-Known Member
So, at 5.5 he's old enough, that's for sure. Good luck!
Buckscrape
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if I've ever taken a "cull" buck. But there has been a couple times where I've had two 5 or 6 yr olds and I targeted the smaller antlered one, hoping that the other buck grows an even bigger set in the future. Some people might be able to tell at 3 yrs what a buck's potential is, but I sure can't. I've been wrong more than right. That's why my personal criteria is age first ... at least 5.5 or I'm eating tag soup.
That second one is a horse.
Ahh. Thanks! So it really does just have to do with antler potential. Really nothing to do with overall heard health. I kind of assumed that but I always hear about how age is the true trophy and blah blah blah and we have to manage for age cuz of heard health and all that. That makes sense! Thank you!
I think a case can be made that removing bully bucks can help herd health as well.
Bearman205
New Member
Hideous rack and we also confirmed this guy was an a-hole. He was always willing to battle and was all over our farm so I gunned him down. He looked even worse after breaking off what he had. I sent his teeth in and he was aged at either 3 or 4, they were not certain. Either way I didn't want him getting any older with that attitude.
