megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
The post and subsequent discussion on UTGrad's post got me thinking...
I'm a big believer in 'cull' bucks... as they provide additional harvest opportunities on my properties for additional hunter enjoyment.
A little background...
I own/ manage several farms in TN, the best of which for deer hunting is approx. 500 acres. That farm is fortunate to have neighbors who try to manage for 3.5 y/o bucks, as well as phenomenal genetics and nutrition in the form of nearly 1000 acres of cropland within a 2 mile radius. In the past, I used to manage it for 2.5 y/o bucks, then 3.5 y/o bucks and eventually 4.5 y/o bucks... I found that there was always some disgruntlement when someone shot a buck that was a year too young, or took 3 bucks off the property when another guest didn't get to shoot a single buck... Complicating matters in the past couple years was 3 small children that wanted to hunt and kill bucks as well. In all I allow 9 people hunting that property during the hunting season as of last year. So how does one manage a property where each person has the legitimate opportunity to harvest something they feel happy with without hurting the other hunters opportunities?
Starting last year, I made the decision to change harvest restrictions to allow each person to harvest one 'buck of choice'... any buck they wanted to kill and were happy with... For children, that might mean a spike or little forkhorn... for some of my friends, that might mean a 120" 3.5 y/o 8ptr... and for myself and a couple others, it means a representative 4.5 y/o buck. But that's it... one buck and you're done hunting for the season... no additional trophy buck can be killed. Doing so allows enough bucks to make it through the season to ensure that everyone will have the same opportunities the following year... preserving the renewable resource.
But that's where the 'cull' bucks come into play. In addition to each person's 'buck of choice' they get to kill, I also allow them to kill another 'cull' buck... I alone make the decision on what is a cull-- a buck who is at least 4.5 years old with antlers that are significantly below average per age class for this particular farm. These are only bucks which we've photographed and I have made the call are 4.5 and I feel have subpar antlers. In doing so, it allows each person the opportunity for a second buck, without hurting another's chances at a 'trophy' buck. And since I've had yearly consecutive pictures of these bucks, I know they won't magically add another 30" of antler growth the following year. In essence, they are deer that no one would shoot as their only 'buck of choice' when there are MUCH higher scoring deer using the property.
Do I think that killing these 'culls' is improving my local genetics? Absolutely not. But again, allowing hunters to pursue them provides additional hunter opportunity and enjoyment in continuing their hunt, even after harvesting their 'buck of choice'.
Again, these 'culls' are specifically designated based on my opinions, and photographs are shared with those hunting my properties... other 'culls' which I have not photographed are based on the hunter's discretion... but if they shoot a buck as a 'cull' which does not meet my definition, then it counts as their 'buck of choice' and they are done hunting for the season. If they have already harvested their 'buck of choice' and then harvest a 'cull' which I have not designated, I will then go by the jawbone age... If it ages at 4.5 or older, then it does count as their cull... if less than 4.5, then they lose their bucks for the following season.
This harvest strategy allows for maximum opportunity for hunters of all levels to kill something they are happy with, without impacting the resource and ensuring opportunity for years to come.
My 8 y/o son was a little frustrated with it last year, when a little 4 ptr came out in front of him... 'Dad can I shoot that deer?', 'Yes, sure you can son', I said...'but that will be your buck for the year'. He then said, 'what if a bigger buck comes out tomorrow, can I shoot it too?' 'No', I said, 'you will have already killed your buck for the year'. He then said, 'who made up this rule?' To which I replied, 'I did.' Factually, he then said, 'well then you can change it for me'
I told him if I changed the rule for him, I'd have to change it for everyone, then if all 9 people hunting the property shot 2 bucks each, we wouldn't have enough to hunt the following year... even at age 9, he seemed to understand (and chose of his own accord to pass on the little 4 ptr). But giving HIM the choice (not me or anyone else) to chose what he shoots or passes on seems to have really empowered him (and even some of the adults who hunt on my farms).
Here's some examples from this year of culls (and not culls):
This buck is 4.5 (maybe 5.5 depending on how old he was when we first photographed him 3 seasons ago). He's on the 'cull' list for this year.
And this buck is 6.5... and sure he is a 'trophy', but not many would shoot this 110" buck as their only buck when there are several 125-130" bucks using the same property
This buck is not a 'cull' by my definition, since he's only 3.5 this year... I wouldn't be surprised if someone shoots him as their 'buck of choice' if they desire, but I'll reevaluate him next year if he makes it and reevaluate his antlers before designating him as a 'cull' or a 'buck of choice'
And again, for the naysayers regarding 'culls'... I know there is no genetic benefit to removing these deer from the herd. But conversely, there is no benefit in leaving them in the herd (since I have an adequate age structure on the farms and have enough older bucks recruited into the following age classes). and if killing them brings additional enjoyment without impacting others hunting on the property, then why not?
I'm a big believer in 'cull' bucks... as they provide additional harvest opportunities on my properties for additional hunter enjoyment.
A little background...
I own/ manage several farms in TN, the best of which for deer hunting is approx. 500 acres. That farm is fortunate to have neighbors who try to manage for 3.5 y/o bucks, as well as phenomenal genetics and nutrition in the form of nearly 1000 acres of cropland within a 2 mile radius. In the past, I used to manage it for 2.5 y/o bucks, then 3.5 y/o bucks and eventually 4.5 y/o bucks... I found that there was always some disgruntlement when someone shot a buck that was a year too young, or took 3 bucks off the property when another guest didn't get to shoot a single buck... Complicating matters in the past couple years was 3 small children that wanted to hunt and kill bucks as well. In all I allow 9 people hunting that property during the hunting season as of last year. So how does one manage a property where each person has the legitimate opportunity to harvest something they feel happy with without hurting the other hunters opportunities?
Starting last year, I made the decision to change harvest restrictions to allow each person to harvest one 'buck of choice'... any buck they wanted to kill and were happy with... For children, that might mean a spike or little forkhorn... for some of my friends, that might mean a 120" 3.5 y/o 8ptr... and for myself and a couple others, it means a representative 4.5 y/o buck. But that's it... one buck and you're done hunting for the season... no additional trophy buck can be killed. Doing so allows enough bucks to make it through the season to ensure that everyone will have the same opportunities the following year... preserving the renewable resource.
But that's where the 'cull' bucks come into play. In addition to each person's 'buck of choice' they get to kill, I also allow them to kill another 'cull' buck... I alone make the decision on what is a cull-- a buck who is at least 4.5 years old with antlers that are significantly below average per age class for this particular farm. These are only bucks which we've photographed and I have made the call are 4.5 and I feel have subpar antlers. In doing so, it allows each person the opportunity for a second buck, without hurting another's chances at a 'trophy' buck. And since I've had yearly consecutive pictures of these bucks, I know they won't magically add another 30" of antler growth the following year. In essence, they are deer that no one would shoot as their only 'buck of choice' when there are MUCH higher scoring deer using the property.
Do I think that killing these 'culls' is improving my local genetics? Absolutely not. But again, allowing hunters to pursue them provides additional hunter opportunity and enjoyment in continuing their hunt, even after harvesting their 'buck of choice'.
Again, these 'culls' are specifically designated based on my opinions, and photographs are shared with those hunting my properties... other 'culls' which I have not photographed are based on the hunter's discretion... but if they shoot a buck as a 'cull' which does not meet my definition, then it counts as their 'buck of choice' and they are done hunting for the season. If they have already harvested their 'buck of choice' and then harvest a 'cull' which I have not designated, I will then go by the jawbone age... If it ages at 4.5 or older, then it does count as their cull... if less than 4.5, then they lose their bucks for the following season.
This harvest strategy allows for maximum opportunity for hunters of all levels to kill something they are happy with, without impacting the resource and ensuring opportunity for years to come.
My 8 y/o son was a little frustrated with it last year, when a little 4 ptr came out in front of him... 'Dad can I shoot that deer?', 'Yes, sure you can son', I said...'but that will be your buck for the year'. He then said, 'what if a bigger buck comes out tomorrow, can I shoot it too?' 'No', I said, 'you will have already killed your buck for the year'. He then said, 'who made up this rule?' To which I replied, 'I did.' Factually, he then said, 'well then you can change it for me'
I told him if I changed the rule for him, I'd have to change it for everyone, then if all 9 people hunting the property shot 2 bucks each, we wouldn't have enough to hunt the following year... even at age 9, he seemed to understand (and chose of his own accord to pass on the little 4 ptr). But giving HIM the choice (not me or anyone else) to chose what he shoots or passes on seems to have really empowered him (and even some of the adults who hunt on my farms). Here's some examples from this year of culls (and not culls):
This buck is 4.5 (maybe 5.5 depending on how old he was when we first photographed him 3 seasons ago). He's on the 'cull' list for this year.
And this buck is 6.5... and sure he is a 'trophy', but not many would shoot this 110" buck as their only buck when there are several 125-130" bucks using the same property
This buck is not a 'cull' by my definition, since he's only 3.5 this year... I wouldn't be surprised if someone shoots him as their 'buck of choice' if they desire, but I'll reevaluate him next year if he makes it and reevaluate his antlers before designating him as a 'cull' or a 'buck of choice'
And again, for the naysayers regarding 'culls'... I know there is no genetic benefit to removing these deer from the herd. But conversely, there is no benefit in leaving them in the herd (since I have an adequate age structure on the farms and have enough older bucks recruited into the following age classes). and if killing them brings additional enjoyment without impacting others hunting on the property, then why not?
But I still do not regret passing him up... He had the rare genetic potential to gross 170 at maturity had he made it... and that's an unbeliveably rare thing on my farms.
