I'm not sure what to think of this buck..I don't see any sign of injury so I'm leaning towards character And just a really pretty picture
Hard to tell from the front on view, but looks a little "leggy" to me yet. I would let him grow up a year or two. I don't think culling works.
I believe in culling but only in so much as it applies to mature deer. At such a young age, you really have no idea what potential a youngster like that is going to eventually express. It's undeniable that culling out a less than desirable buck is going to result in fewer deer that share poor genetics. The only thing that's debatable is how much of an impact that has in a wild, free ranging deer herd. At any rate, that's another topic, that deer is too young IMHO to take out regardless of what he's carrying now.
I don't think he's three years old yet but even if he is he could gain a lot between now and five or even next year. Of course you're in a vastly different part of the country, maybe your deer just look that way at three.
I agree with the post that stated he looked like a 3 year old. I don't see any harm in killing that buck, if it's character then that's character I don't want.
I'm sorry but I 100% cannot stand the excuse or term culling on any deer. Last time I checked EVERY deer can reach maturity (4-5 years of age). At that point it don't matter the bone on his head that deer becomes a trophy in my book. Stop letting the score of a buck dictate trophy status. Even if you are a score type guy, still that buck could explode over the next couple years and be something amazingly unique.
Tyni, thank you for your input and opinion, I agree with most of what you said, however, I was more or less asking what everyone on this forms opinion was of this deer's horns and if they would want these genetics on their properties because personally, I wasn't sure what to think...he is my first buck of this type and I'm not sure if I like him. I will talk it over with the land owner and gather his thoughts. As far as a piebald ItsWhatWeDo, I thought the same thing at first glimpse but I think it's just hair loss
Personally I would embrace funky genetics but I love gnarly. This could be injury or velvet damage the way it is almost "pushed" over, way too tough to tell based on one year, I'd try to convince landowner of one more year. But in the end yeah we do as landowner's desire and if they want it gone well than you gotta do that.
I'm with Ty on this one. To each their own, but I find it just as rewarding to watch deer grow and to learn their tendencies and patterns through the years. Older bucks can be tough buggers to kill! Let this guy grow, embrace the funkiness! And then take him when he's 5+ yr old. Don't kill him just because "he's ugly" , Kill him because you would be proud to have him on your wall, Just my opinion.
I gotta say I am leaning towards some kind of injury. Unless you have seen a fair number of deer like that. If it was genetic those irregularities would start showing up as soon as he is old enough to grow antlers. Doesn't have to be anything big, he could have simply banged that side on a tree and it healed and grew a little different. To me that buck is probably a shooter either way in my neck of the woods, but everyone has different standards in their area. If he is small for your area, give him a pass and see what happens next year.
Let him grow. If it was a minor injury, he could recover and grow out normal next year. I'm with Tim. Shoot him because you want him on your wall, not because his rack is weird.
