Cull or Managment ???

I have a question for the members here. What do you think of the use of the terms cull or managment bucks?


I will say that I have been guilty of using these terms. I remember watching hunting shows where they were hunting a big ranch in Texas and the hunter would shoot a big 8 or 9 pointer and they would say right away that they just shot a cull or managment buck. I can remember thinking HOLY $**T I would LOVE to shoot that buck. Like most things we watch from hunting shows, we started to use these terms way to often in my opinion, just like BBD (but that is another thread). It seams like when some one shoots a buck that wont score very high, you hear cull or managment because the hunter is worried about what others might think. There is a reason why all of the threads get started...shooter or not? For the most part I think the OP wants to shoot the buck but is just looking for the ok from his peers. The problem is how many that say you should wait another year...would actually wait another year? I trully believe this, if you see a buck that gets you excited and you want to shoot then you should, dont let the opinions of others decide what will make you happy.

For those that are trying to manage their deer herd and want to shoot bucks that they feel are inferior, I would try and wait to they were 4 1/2 before sealing their fate. I can remember years ago when a lot of people said, once a spike always a spike, some bucks might really develop after they get some age to them. Good luck to every one this season and I hope every one shoots one that they are proud of.

 

Yes I am with you Tom...I have said pretty much your exact words in other threads. They just seem to want our ok, when they really only need their ok. I think the only time a hunter should ask "shoot or not" is if they are hunting someone elses land who has rules on what deer get shot. Im sure there is a time and place for cull or management bucks, but I dont feel that many people we talk to, especially on here, have that time or place.

People if you want to shoot a buck, shoot it! Be proud! As long as it is legal, no one will hold it against you. They might have done otherwise, but its not their tag you are filling, it is yours. If you want to take a spike for the meat, or if you like the antlers, take the spike...just dont try to justify it that way. Be proud to say you filled your freezer, plenty of hunters will be jealous of that alone. And Ill say this, I have never seen a 4 1/2 year old spike...and if you have one running around Id love love love to see it. And things like 4.5 year old fork horns or 6 points make some awesome trophies. I seen a monster 4.5-5.5 year old 5 point in MD last year and I swear I dream of that buck more then a 230" non typical...No joke!

 

I agree 100%! Don't get me wrong, a big nasty 6 or 8 is fine, I'd shoot it, but if you see a deer and it gets your heart beating erratically, shoot it. Be proud of your kill and take pride in your work. The first deer I ever shot, I was 11 and it was last day of season. My dad and I were driving back down a path we take to get to the stand and a small spike walked into a clearing. We both got out of the truck, I loaded up my gun and shot him. A small, little spike. That has got to be one of the greatest memories Ive ever had and over that tiny thing? Yes. Although now I've got a nice 8, a tall and wide 11, and two 9 pointers. That small spike is still the one that stuck with me big time. Lets be realistic, not everyone can have thousands of acres that they can have the time to plant plots and manage every day while putting out all 200 trail cams. For those that can't do what I just stated, who cares? Ill pass on small bucks in the beginning of the season, but if its the last week of archery, I'm fillin tags to put meat in the freezer!

 

my first buck was an 8 point but a real little rack big body buck for my area lots of pressure, i felt no shame in it i loved it it got me excited haha so i am with you 110% i ould love to see a monster but youre right if it gets you excited take it! imo no one can make the call other than the shooter himself. who knows that one spike you saw last eek and passed up may have been youre only chance at meat this season you make a perfect point! great thread already!

 

Great post. Ive seen a couple of cull threads that just upset me. I wish that word would just be completely erased from a hunters vocabulary. People should be proud of any deer they kill. Sure, a nice 140+ buck would be awesome but thats not everyones goal. A trophy deer is in the eye of the beholder and shouldn't be decided by someone else.

Personally, I try to let the smaller ones go because my goal is to reach 130+. Is that going to be a mean some difficult years, yes, but that's my goal and Im committed to it. I catch myself sometimes getting mad at my neighbors for taking smaller bucks because it does make my goal that much more difficult. Its taken me awhile to realize that getting upset is ignorant of me and that any buck could make them extremely happy.

 

my rule for bucks is if i catch the fever im shooting it. its all about that feeling man, thats what tells you whats true in your heart. for instance after youve seen enough bucks you dont get excited over seeing a four point. But my first buck was a four point and it could have been a 170 and i would have felt the same. you dont have to explain your reason for shooting to anyone else but yourself. Like others have said take pride in what youve done and enjoy it. dont get caught up in the big buck hype.. ruining the sport in my opinion

 

i disagree, if you are serious about management these words need to be in your vocabulary. now this is not for everyone but guys who are serious this is a must.

BBD abbreviation is great!!!! i love it when i get the BBD text from my buddies.

 

Unless you have thousands of acres with a fence labeling a cull or management buck is just an excuse to shoot that buck. You can find something in almost every bucks rack to give him said label. It could be short tines or short main beams or something as silly as he is only an 8-point at 3.5 years old. What I love most is that every bucks rack is different in one way or another I love bucks with junk and character it would be boring in every 4.5 year old was a perfectly typical 10-pointer.

 

why do you keep calling it an excuse? for people who are serious(not you) it is part of the process.

 

I thinks it's crap. I also think, unless you have thousands of acres or a really high fence, then culling or managing your herd is a waste of time and effort. The whole "excuse" thing Pat is referring to, is dead on. Do what you want on your own property, but shooting a buck that is 3 1/2 that doesn't score what you "think" it should is bs. When the study that says 70% of a bucks genetics/rack comes from the mother proves to be correct, I'm going to laugh at all the managers!

 

30% is better than the 0% you are doing. maby one day you and your boy pat can come play with the big boys!!!!

 

Dude makes some strong post for only having 100 some post. Can't we make love not wag

 

If by big boys you mean the management buck in your avatar with no tines over 6 inches long .... No thanks

Just for curiosity sake .... Is it possible for you to debate something without making it personal ??

You better get busy you have a fence to put up

 

8" brows, beer can bases, 20" wide. You have a great eye for big bucks LOL!!!!

 

To quench my curiosity, please define for me "come play with the big boys!!!!"

 

Really we cant have a discussion with out it coming to this. There should be more to a discussion than I think this way so I am right and you are wrong. You can seriouslly manage a property with out shooting culls or managment bucks though IMO but like I said before I dont have a problem with some one doing so. My point is too many people label a deer a managment or cull just because they want to shoot a buck that isnt very big and use that as an excuse instead of just being proud of what they shot.

 

I'll be the first to call bs on those measurements... Unless your deer have 18" ears, and I'd like to see a beer can next to the bases... I'm betting they aren't 8 1/2". I have 340" bull elk in the bed of the truck that has 10" bases.

 

Beer can bases?! Come on dude.. Just stop it

 

I guess managing your property means driving around on your bad boy and dumping a couple monster rack stations around, maybe a food plot or 2

 

For the guys who are serious about managing for big bucks and shooting inferior bucks you cant have it both ways. If a buck has a deficiency like short tines it should be considered a managment buck...do you really want to pass on the genetics of a buck with short tines??? It doesnt matter how heavy the rack is or how wide it is if you are trully going to manage a property. To say some one doesnt know anything about big bucks because he pointed that out is crazy.