Cull or pass?

[KenLee]

That’s a Florida 11 point.

'Lem point

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Not a spike, but here's a mature forky we had on a property last year. After we shot him, a beautiful 10 showed up and took over his side of the property.

That is a great example of a deer to "cull". I'd think of him as a trophy 4 point.

I've killed spikes both intentionally and unintentionally. They taste great!

 

[RS3579]

I’d shoot that 1st light on the 1st day. Always was, always will be a meat hunter

 

[Huntsalot]

You can't control a wild herd. Half the genetics come from the doe.

 

[Long Cut]

* In Crocodile Dundee voice* - “Crikey that’s a Cull!”

 

[hunt1up]

Not a spike, but here's a mature forky we had on a property last year. After we shot him, a beautiful 10 showed up and took over his side of the property.

Now THAT is a "cull" buck. I'd be actively hunting a deer like that, because I go after mature bucks regardless of size. The OP buck is a yearling and an easy pass.

 

[Long Cut]

Not a spike, but here's a mature forky we had on a property last year. After we shot him, a beautiful 10 showed up and took over his side of the property.

Funny you mention this, after I killed that big 4pt pictured above, a much larger antler wise buck showed up a week later.

 

[Kyguy]

Larry Weishuhn talks about why there isn't a "cull" buck.... on one of his management areas, a spike in year one turned out to a monster at year 4, I think it was. He improved substantially each year. Same thing with the culling of 8 pt bucks, which some ranches do. It was an interesting listen. I don't have a link, I just happened across it one day.

 

[JGRaider]

When we shoot "cull" bucks on our whitetail and mule deer MLD ground, it's more about age than antler structure.

 

[Rich M]

Not a spike, but here's a mature forky we had on a property last year. After we shot him, a beautiful 10 showed up and took over his side of the property.

That thing is huge.

 

[go_deep]

You'll never kill enough deer on free range deer to alter the genetics.
Shoot what makes you happy.

 

[Upstateram]

Larry Weishuhn talks about why there isn't a "cull" buck.... on one of his management areas, a spike in year one turned out to a monster at year 4, I think it was. He improved substantially each year. Same thing with the culling of 8 pt bucks, which some ranches do. It was an interesting listen. I don't have a link, I just happened across it one day.

 

[Kyguy]

That's part of it

 

[Long Cut]

You'll never kill enough deer on free range deer to alter the genetics.
Shoot what makes you happy.

I believed the same thing, until we took over a large tract of land (6 square miles) that was a “meat club”.

We had over 60 trail cameras among all of us, the oldest buck the first year was one single 3YO. Biologist confirmed, we do trail cameras surveys and have cameras on every food plot, feeder, creek crossings, scrapes etc..

It took us 3 years to get our first 5YO buck, and we’re beginning to have a more balanced age class among our bucks now.

I’ve heard Dr. Strickland & DeMeras at MSU Deer Lab refer to “high grading” a buck herd before and I have first hand witnessed it personally now.