In true Trophy Management programs, "Management Bucks" are older to mature bucks that are removed because they are not living up to the trophy standards of the management program. But they are not removed for genetic reasons. They are simply removed to take a mouth out of the environment that will never be what the management is trying to produce. The thinking is: Why continue to feed a mature buck that is only producing a 110 gross rack? Why not remove him and leave the food he would have eaten for a buck that shows true trophy potential?
For a Trophy Management program to be successful, the managers either must keep the herd way below carrying capacity or heavily supplementally fed. Supplemental feeding at the trophy level is very expensive, so why waste feed costs on a deer that isn't living up to what the management is trying to produce?
But also remember that management bucks aren't removed until near maturity, so that their true antler potential can be assessed. Potential is much more difficult to assess at younger ages, hence management bucks are still protected until at least 3 1/2 and usually until 4 1/2.
The problem with the management buck idea for MOST hunters/managers is, do they really have mature bucks to spare? If they do, then fine. But most managers are struggling to produce/keep a harvestable population of mature bucks, and a mature buck with smaller antlers than desired still influences the local herd in important ways, regardless of his antler quality.
