Hey, we share the same line of thinking, I always try and "cull" the biggest deer to. On a side note, you got a special one picked out this year?
Most (and again, me not being there, I can't be sure) hunters I see on TV using the term, it's an excuse...just like Scott mentioned. Large scale management on enclosed ranches, well then I'm sure there's some merit to it, but for the most part, if you're average joe hunter says he shot a cull 4 point, it's an excuse made for shooting a deer he/she isn't proud of.
Every buck taken is "culled" whether he be a massive buck with large rack or a buck w/less than desirable headgear.
Defenition.... Cull- to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals. Based on Mr. Webster... You do not cull big bucks
As they are removed from the herd, you are still reducing the size and controlling (as far as human can) what the future holds for said herd. Another definition found on the internet states "Culling is the process of removing animals from a group based on specific criteria. This is done in order to either reinforce certain desirable characteristics or to remove certain undesirable characteristics from the group." Every time a big buck is taken out of the herd, it reinforces less desirable traits.
This says the same thing twice.... In different words.... If you were to "remove" desirable characteristics that would leave undesirable characteristics.... So in order to "reinforce" desirable characteristics you would have to remove the undesirable ones.... So, it is basically the same definition as Mr. Websters. Just a lot longer and less clear and to the point.
I have seen the free ranging management work I hunt down here in Texas and If you are lucky enough to get a number of ranches in one area to manage their land (shoot the right number of deer bucks and doe's off than like stated above more food for the better fit deer.) I use the word cull a lot because I think there are. I have been around a lot of breading pins with school research and yes doe's do have a great impact in making a buck but good management skills also have a greater impact on the deer too. But what if you have a 3 1/2 year old 4 point and a 3 1/2 10 point tell me which one would be a cull. Anyway it’s hard to categorize a deer when you placed around other leases that shoot everything and you know that is the only thing you are going to see. Anyways that is was I think lol Scott
I agree Scott, I have always called BS on this. I just wonder how many "cull " bucks have been shot AFTER they have planted the seed anyway!
I agree with you 99.9% buckeye. The only thing I maybe am not sure about (don't agree/disagree) is that it can't be done with free ranging whitetails. If one had a 1500+ acre property, it might be possible, but I'm not really sure. About the only management one can successfully do in my own experience with my 130 acres, and Jaws place (170ish acres), is whack the heck out of the does to bring the buck/doe ratio into check. It took me about 4 years, and it took Jaws about 6 years at our properties to get things in check, but both of us are seeing about 50/50 right now if you don't include fawns. I don't think on smaller tracts that culling them helps improve anything, and I don't think that passing little bucks does anything other than giving you more stand time. IMHO, unless you have exclusive control of 1500+ acres, all you can do is get your buck/doe population in check, improve food/habitat, and make sure you don't tag out early on a dink.
Cull, harvest, management buck..... Some of you guys watch too much TV, who really cares what someone else kills???
What I find most interesting about this debate is that the female (the mother) is actually more responsible for the antler make-up of the offspring then the male (father). Not a ton more.. but like 60-40ish. Imagine that.
Which bucks are cull bucks and which ones are not? There is an important factor to keep in mind: Sometimes a cull to one person is not a cull to another. A cull, by definition, is something that is considered inferior or inadequate — not as good as the rest. As such, the topic of cull bucks comes about when ranch managers and hunters want to know which bucks should be culled to improve herd quality. After all, deer antlers are highly heritable.
