shooting management deer/does

[Cactus Jack]

Just wanted some opinions from everybody, what kind of impact do you think that first deer you shoot has on the rest of the herd? I have a few bucks on camera that really need to be shot for genetics reasons but I'm afraid of what that might do to the other big bucks possibly lurking just behind the tree line so to speak. Has anyone seen a huge effect on deer movement after taking one or more animals or do you think they somewhat get over it after a couple of days? Would hate to ruin one of my good set ups just for some deformed looking 7 point that needs culling.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

From the experiences on my place,you will regret not shooting them.people going to tell you different,but this is from my experience

 

[jard]

I dropped a 8 pt sunday directly on the 4 wheeler trail. 15 minutes later a doe walked down the trailer and literally stepped over his back legs while he laid there dead to get into the field to eat.

I have also seen bucks try to mount a hot doe that had been killed while she lay in the field.

Don't think its gonna matter.

 

[knightrider]

You can't change herd genetics by shooting a few bucks that you don't think are up to par in a wild herd, now if you could shoot all fifty of them that are not up to your standards on the surrounding 5000 acres you may could make a dent but I doubt it. There is no way to know which does are passing the bad genes or which spike is going to make a sub par buck because after all those same bucks your wanting to kill for their genetics have been breeding since they were spikes. Oh and no its not gonna hurt to shoot em

 

[megalomaniac]

The vast majority of deformed antlers are actually not genetic, but injuries to the pedicle... therefore, removing them from the herd does nothing for your local genetics. It does remove an additional mouth to feed, but if you are not near carrying capacity, you will derive MUCH more benefit from letting the buck live rather than shooting him.

 

[Boll Weevil]

As others have stated, from a genetics perspective you will have no impact on a wild free-ranging herd. Where it will have some impact is in carrying capacity for the property and buck:doe ratio. As well, latent scent from human activity can have long lasting effects when hunting mature deer...they're smart and simply don't like human interaction (whether you kill other deer in a particular area or not).

 

[Winchester]

What are you basing the fact on that these bucks NEED shooting?

 

[Bone Collector]

I think it depends on the property and food sources in the area. If you shoot deer on your property, but have the prime food sources in the area, then they will probably be back. If you shoot them and the neighboring properties have just as good of food sources as you and they are not shooting them, then I would say they will go to your neighbors at least until the food runs out...

 

[Cactus Jack]

What are you basing the fact on that these bucks NEED shooting?

Well i suppose "need" shooting may not have been the appropriate term to describe things, more so just that if I want to shoot a buck for the dinner table then I would rather shoot a deer that doesn't seem to show that genetic potential that some of the other on my property do. But from everything i'm seem to be hearing there's not a whole lot i could do to make a difference on a place where deer can come and go so easily, so which deer i shoot ultimately won't matter as much. Honestly my question was just more geared towards the thought of the risk of shooting a deer on my property before I get a chance at the trophy i'm looking for. Does all of that racket and scent ultimately keep that big deer away from the area my stand is in, or will a hot doe eventually make him slip up and walk past me anyways?

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

You can't change herd genetics by shooting a few bucks that you don't think are up to par in a wild herd, now if you could shoot all fifty of them that are not up to your standards on the surrounding 5000 acres you may could make a dent but I doubt it. There is no way to know which does are passing the bad genes or which spike is going to make a sub par buck because after all those same bucks your wanting to kill for their genetics have been breeding since they were spikes. Oh and no its not gonna hurt to shoot em

You raise some good points but the fact remains if you cull even a buck or two with bad genetics...that's a couple of less bucks that are NOT passing on their bad genetics.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Does all of that racket and scent ultimately keep that big deer away from the area my stand is in, or will a hot doe eventually make him slip up and walk past me anyways?

If there's anything that'll cause an old buck to make a mistake it's definitely a doe in heat. That being said every time you walk in, sit, walk out, shoot, drag, bring the ATV...that all adds up and equals pressure. Mature deer will absolutely respond to it and adjust accordingly.

 

[catman529]

If you're always hunting the same stand that reduces your chance of seeing a mature buck quite a bit. Even if he's with a hot doe, he knows how many times he's seen, heard or smelled you in the same spot, and he will stay out of range or out of sight while the doe may not be so wise


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[TraumaSlave]

Shot a small buck in front of 6 doe and the doe were back the next evening and have continued to return.

 

[Winchester]

What are you basing the fact on that these bucks NEED shooting?

Well i suppose "need" shooting may not have been the appropriate term to describe things, more so just that if I want to shoot a buck for the dinner table then I would rather shoot a deer that doesn't seem to show that genetic potential that some of the other on my property do. But from everything i'm seem to be hearing there's not a whole lot i could do to make a difference on a place where deer can come and go so easily, so which deer i shoot ultimately won't matter as much. Honestly my question was just more geared towards the thought of the risk of shooting a deer on my property before I get a chance at the trophy i'm looking for. Does all of that racket and scent ultimately keep that big deer away from the area my stand is in, or will a hot doe eventually make him slip up and walk past me anyways?

CJ, I think I understand your question a lil better. The very first time you ever sit a particular stand is the very best chance you will have to kill a mature buck from that stand, and in most cases every visit thereafter the % of success on a mature buck drops. There are definitely exceptions but for the most part its fact. As for culling bucks, the ONLY cull buck in existence is a FULLY mature buck that grows inferior or smaller antlers than like aged deer for the area, and even then the term cull can be argued, they don't really exist for the most part in TN. A buck that was maybe born late, had limited resources, highly stressed, etc, Can make huge leaps in antler size from one year to the next when things turn in his favor.
If you want to shoot any deer for meat or any other reason you deem necessary, by all means shoot them when legal, but don't feel obligated as its just not necessary.
https://www.qdma.com/articles/why-we-ca ... r-genetics

 

[megalomaniac]

You can't change herd genetics by shooting a few bucks that you don't think are up to par in a wild herd, now if you could shoot all fifty of them that are not up to your standards on the surrounding 5000 acres you may could make a dent but I doubt it. There is no way to know which does are passing the bad genes or which spike is going to make a sub par buck because after all those same bucks your wanting to kill for their genetics have been breeding since they were spikes. Oh and no its not gonna hurt to shoot em

You raise some good points but the fact remains if you cull even a buck or two with bad genetics...that's a couple of less bucks that are NOT passing on their bad genetics.

How do you know they have bad genetics? What if they actually had the very best genetics in your entire herd and you killed them? the fact remains if you cull even a buck or two with phenomenal genetics...that's a couple of less bucks that are NOT passing on their phenomenal genetics.