Herd management?

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Little testy aint you. Did not know someone had already mentioned it.

Hahaha it was like everytime I mentioned something the next response was he has a low fence! I was like I KNOW!!!
It just got funny not testy

 

[T-Max]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Badgers80]

Terrible picture, but this was him the year before I shot him. Disgusting...
View attachment 71215

Love how the shape of him goes from his shoulders, squeezes in a bit and then his massive neck bulges it back out A hog

 

[Catscratch]

Terrible picture, but this was him the year before I shot him. Disgusting...
View attachment 71215

Beautiful deer!!!

 

[Catscratch]

That's what the book is about I posted earlier in this thread. The authors are well aware that genetics can't be changed, but they have a technique like you describe to take out the lesser quality mature bucks to give the better quality mature bucks more resources. In my scenario, I can't do what they're describing. My scenario would be like using your description of fish in the pond but in a large lake, making a section of it off limits to anyone but me and my guests. I just don't think it would work since those fish can come and go to the other parts of the lake.

The book has been ordered...
Thanks for the suggestion (I may have to put the Steven King and Dean R Koontz books down for a week or 2)!

 

[BenAllgood]

The book has been ordered...
Thanks for the suggestion (I may have to put the Steven King and Dean R Koontz books down for a week or 2)!

Let us know how you like it. The gist of it is this: if you have a lot of 3.5+ bucks, then protect your best 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks and remove the below average 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks. This lets you see what those best bucks look like with ample resources at 5.5+

 

[Catscratch]

Let us know how you like it. The gist of it is this: if you have a lot of 3.5+ bucks, then protect your best 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks and remove the below average 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks. This lets you see what those best bucks look like with ample resources at 5.5+

That's spot on with what I've been doing. I'll likely enjoy the read. Thanks again for the recommendation!

 

[SwampCat]

Let us know how you like it. The gist of it is this: if you have a lot of 3.5+ bucks, then protect your best 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks and remove the below average 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks. This lets you see what those best bucks look like with ample resources at 5.5+

That is what we do. I have several folks hunt my place. There are nearly enough 150’s to go around. There are quite a few inferior bucks. Shooting those deer satisfies the desire to “kill a deer”, puts meat in the freezer, provides tracking opportunity for the younger hunters, and camaraderie around the skinning pole. A win all the way around.

 

[BenAllgood]

That is what we do. I have several folks hunt my place. There are nearly enough 150’s to go around. There are quite a few inferior bucks. Shooting those deer satisfies the desire to “kill a deer”, puts meat in the freezer, provides tracking opportunity for the younger hunters, and camaraderie around the skinning pole. A win all the way around.

About how many 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks do you have on your DO NOT SHOOT list each year? And, about how many 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks are on your SHOOT list?

 

[BenAllgood]

I think just maybe MSU Deer Lab monitors this forum? They just posted a series of videos on YT in this playlist called "Buck Selective Harvest Strategies"

Buck Selective Harvest Strategies

An understanding of the factors that account for regional variation in growth outputs of white-tailed deer is required to make informed decisions and develop...

youtube.com

 

[SwampCat]

About how many 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks do you have on your DO NOT SHOOT list each year? And, about how many 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks are on your SHOOT list?

We consider the 4.5 yr old mature. Very common for them to score as much or more as a 4.5 than a 5.5. Common for them to add a little bit of mass, but lose a point - so we take a quality buck at 4.5 most of the time - if we can. On my camera survey this year - I had about 20 unique bucks on 350 acres. Two really nice mature deer and four or five mature bucks that wont get any better. We killed a wide, short tined ten pt - 5.5 - would have scored about 125. Neighbors killed a big, tall 8 pt - 5.5 - scored low 120’s. The two big deer have not been seen on camera for 3 weeks. Still have a few of the older inferior bucks around. Try not to shoot 3.5 yr old much - except my daughter shot a pretty nice one that she mistook for an older deer - should have been passed - but I was glad for her. Deer below is at least six if not seven yrs old. Never seen him - in season or out - and I live on my land. Always been a five pt. He is my main target buck - leave the others to the kids and grandkids. But, last old timer like that - when I settled he crosshairs on him, let him walk. Just didnt see the point in shooting