When To Shoot A Cull Buck

[@alexkreger316]

Great informational video Jeff! This topic comes up all the time in my hunting group. Glad you are setting people straight.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I hope it helps Alex!

[@MrRABland]

Thanks for helping to educate us rookies so that we can educate our misinformed veteran know-it-all neighbors 🤓

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Haha, thanks Rick I hope it helps 😊

[@naomicreech9870]

I’m so thankful to learn these life long lessons early in my hunting lifestyle. I am pumped for the upcoming season!!! 😊🤙

[@lenkurzynske8735]

Challenging topic for a lot of hunters! Thanks for the background info and” right way” to do the Culling!🦌🦌

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It sure is challenging Len! Hope youbare getting excited...it's not too far away!

[@AustinRiggleman]

Jeff I have a buck that’s Atleast 5-7 years old. He is easily 140+ however this year and last year he didn’t have brow tines. I was hoping last year that he would grow some brows this year but he hasn’t. Instead he grew a g4 on the right side. This is WV so a buck his size around my area is pretty incredible

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Austin! Sounds like an amazing buck I hope you run into him this season 😊 Brows are often like point and main beam characteristics...they typically don't change much outside of splits, forks, etc...

[@gregruotsala6266]

Thanks Jeff! The decades old argument, all depends on how hungry you are an if he is heading towards the truck ;)

[@bowman8316]

🤣👏🤣

[@gregruotsala6266]

Truth is nature provides way to many variables to ever truly know. Especially at 1.5 yrs old,when most are killed

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, I like that!

[@mitchellgenz1373]

Great information Jeff, got your brassica blend in last weekend, then the rains came.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks Mitchell and that is great...perfect timing 😊

[@acanuck3267]

Hunting and farming is getting closer and closer in terms.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Unfortunately those that work the hardest often experience the least. Now more than ever strategy is needed because the more folks rely on gadgets, gizmos and improvements to give them a great hunt, the more they fail.

[@JBesq]

The sentiment of this video is spot on. Speak with knowledge.

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

Thanks Jeff!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome Isaac!

[@evanmartin9450]

I'm excited to see what this guy looks like hard horned, another great video! 👍 Thanks Sturgis!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Me too Evan! He will look awesome for sure 😊

[@TylerMcMahan]

I let my 8yo shoot a five point with deformed antler bc it was so fascinated with game cameras I would have 1000s of pictures of just one eye and his antler. The amount of time it saved me just looking through photos!!!

[@Chesswithwhitetails]

I agree with you Sturgis. Good way to put it. Iv always agreed with you on the explanation on Culling. Could of been a variety of reasons to cause antler deformity. Iv heard stories where the racks correct people think they have an entirely new deer until they realize it was the buck with the bad rack.

[@alexpinnow6509]

Only shoot a buck if he scores 14pts Jeff...4legs + 10 excitement level! My buck from the last week of season had a severely damaged nose and very weird left side of his antlers and VERY cool

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thats awesome Alex!! Got yo love one with character 😊

[@CentralMississippiWhitetail]

Great episode from a longtime sub

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks David that really means a lot to me!

[@nathaniellarson8]

Last year I had a couple of decent ones hanging around during hunting season, an 8 and a 9. The 8 was the obvious target buck, not even close. I saw him on cams into January, so hopefully he comes back around.

[@bowman8316]

Very interesting... Thanks for sharing your knowledge ! Finally getting a little rain in WNY... praying its a pattern 🤞🏻🌧

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I hope it keeps up for you David!

[@bowman8316]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thank you 🤞🏻👍🏼🦌

[@kurtpearson2793]

Glad to hear 👍

[@bowman8316]

@@kurtpearson2793 thanks Kurt 🕺🏻👍🏼🌾

[@user-tz2dd6nb1i]

Great video! My buddy and I were just going over our target bucks for the year and we are thinking about taking out a 3 year old deer with a jacket up right side. Maybe we'll let it go, we will see.

[@ericwittman3]

Really great individual-based topic. I hunt only public land in Maryland, so my approach is bifurcated. In September, I’m hunting Whitetail, and looking to harvest 2-3 does. I can generally forget mature bucks that month. I’ve seen two in the last 20 years. One’s on the wall and the other I choked miserably on 2 years ago-both last week of September. October weeks 1-3, I’m archery hunting for Sika deer, and I’m harvesting a hind or a stag. Don’t care. Cervus nippon subs. yakushimae venison is the game. October week 4, it’s Sika rut and it’s early muzzleloader. Again, stag or hind works for me. October week 5 - November week 3 is Whitetail pre-rut and rut. I’m 200# hammers only. It’s taxidermist season. December weeks 1-2 is firearm’s season, and I’m back in Sika deer habitat. Hind or stag works for me again. December week 3- January week 1 is some archery, late muzzleloader, and late firearms. In Whitetail habitat, I’m hammers only and in Sika habitat, I’m still “brown it’s down”. January weeks 2-4 is archery. It’s “meat” buck season. Any ugly 200 pounder is a dead man. I’ve taken numerous big, heavy 6s, a double drop-tine with only two brow-tines, ugly high and tights, etc. This is really the ONLY time I’m culling out bucks.

[@kenyerg1745]

Love your work. Long time subscriber I hunted several ranches in Texas that cull every 8 point or lower after there third year they sell these as management bucks and they usually have to score below 130. As a guest

[@joshgarner805]

I had a buck a couple years ago that had an antler that was fine on one side and grew straight down under the ear on thw other side. I only saw him a few times and could never get a shot. I watched him through the winter on my cameras. The next year his rack was fine again. Also all my bucks are odd numbers. 5, 7, 9 ,11 etc. points. It's a cool gene to have around.

[@dmouse522]

Any sign of Venti genetics in the neighborhood?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

We haven't seen any more D!

[@davidtisch5237]

Can’t wait to check my mock vine scape trail cameras after the opener Sept 2 my son won’t let me pull the sd cards til after we hunt Makes sense but I’m excited to see the inner action at the sites 1st time trying vines scapes this year

[@drewharman1690]

Morning Jeff! ? What do you do to a clear cut after several years of growth to keep it from getting to thick to where deer can’t use it?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Drew...a forestry mulcher is one option...cresting clearcut pockets within. A DR brushtrimmer works great for creating deer travel corridors. Chainsaw clearing and killing hardwood regen to favor broadleafs and grasses for diversity. Dozing areas open to plant pollinators and switchgrass...really depends on the resources of the landowner.

[@MegaBraunie]

I just got all my brassica in waiting on a timely rain. Central Wisconsin. We got .10 and now looks like 7 days dry. Do they still have a chance?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

They certainly do...boy you guys have been dry over there! Similar to me down in SW WI...

[@MegaBraunie]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Yesterday all around us got 1-2 inches we got .10. Every year my anxiety is off the charts waiting on rain. LOL Thanks Jeff

[@maxgeorge8746]

13 days. Can hardly wait to get out. Takes lots of discipline to stay out till favorable weather

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen Max...good luck!!

[@davidtisch5237]

Which state you hunt Max My opener is Sept 2 North Dakota Hope your got one day lighting for opening day

[@markhadleysr5676]

Would you shoot a 3 year old bully buck? For me I take what gets me excited, that seems to be if there past the ears my field judging is GIANT! Still gets the blood pumping for me even after 30 years, always happy before and after a harvest. Asking the bully question though because a heavy 7 point 3 year old was just that on my land last year.

[@sobersportsman]

Would you recommend shooting does early in the season or late. We can shoot does all season here in Eastern NC.

[@carsonschulz6498]

What are your thoughts on either a) a buck that’s kept the same deformity for 2-3 years (skull plate caused) or b) 4yr+ small racked taking either buck out earlier (3yo in some areas, 4yo in others) to clear out space for younger, more blessed bucks? I’d never call it culling - and on my farm, never had the deer numbers to try it - but the concept seems sound. Only for areas blessed with high deer numbers that have more than a couple bucks in the 4-5+ age range is my opinion.

[@bobwiese6128]

Nice!!

[@BucksNwalleyes]

My question is what about bully bucks? I Have a 4 1/2 yr old 8 point that is around 115” which is a very low scoring 4 1/2 for my area in mn. I feel like he is keeping other bucks off of my property. When i have seen him he has ran off other bucks. Really debating on shooting him in hopes that something else will move in.

[@KTMsoldier1988]

Just went to my state ground hunting area and they are clear cutting it again....hoping they dont mess up the patterns of the deer.

[@BlanchardsBees]

I've been watching a funky one on the camera's. One side is growing quicker than the other and they curve almost straight up. Very odd looking but he seems to be a regular to my plot.

[@715outdoors2]

Do you have a full body photo of that buck? It could have a broken or missing rear leg. If that is the case, it is certainly a cull buck.

[@kegoangoango]

If you have a buck:doe ratio that is out of balance and need to take n-number of bucks, assuming most bucks in the area are 3 1/2 or younger (which means that's what you're going to have to harvest), would you harvest a balanced 8, messed-up 8 ("inferior") or are you saying it doesn't matter at all?

[@jaydenkeich1202]

How can we contact you personally to get some help with a new Parcell of land

[@stephenkendall6108]

I’ve heard the deer has been injured on the opposite of a bad antler that year? Not sure if it’s true pretty interesting if so.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Yes for sure...so true Stephen! In jury is by far the #1 cause!

[@itsmitch85]

Hey Jeff, thanks for all the videos. Any pointers are great and welcomed. I'm only seeing does on my cell cameras on ag fields currently. This is my first year using cell cameras and getting instant pics, but is it safe to assume once we get closer to hunting season here in Illinois that the bucks will come in and chase the does? I usually see bucks during the season but unfortunately have nothing to compare it to for years past (mainly only checked my SD cards during the season as I was leaving my stands). I'm assuming early season, deer will hit ag fields and as they brown and pressure increases, the deer will move to nuts in the woods. Thanks again!

[@davidtisch5237]

Shoot more does unless your building a herd No body passes up bucks to shoot does these days especially in a one deer state like North Dakota

[@clifowen4300]

I have a couple of bucks on my property that I'm trying to identify. Last year, we had pictures of a (likely) 1 1/2 year old that seems to have a broken skull plate. His right side hung down below his jawline. I intended to shoot him because I was concerned if he would survive. Another buck was a tall, tight 6 point. Now I have 2 bucks, both with a normal 4 point side and the other odd. One looks like a club (I suspect the broken skull plate) and the other resembles a mule deer somewhat.

[@electriceye683]

👍👍

[@ihus9950]

👍🏻

[@joerome8882]

What causes the stickers is that just a gene I’ve never understood why some are so semetrical and slick and some have a bunch of stickers on the base

[@kurtpearson2793]

Antlers are a lot like arteries. They have main vessels potential smaller capillaries. If you smash them the blood flow is effected. Several smaller vein sprouts come off the base👍

[@CExpress420]

If you think a deer isn't great pass them up. If you want to fill the freezer, fill the freezer. If you want to target a deer or age group of deer, target deer. Just stay legal, and stay safe.

[@cedricdupont3724]

How could he be two? That deer is a 10 point!! Here in Quebec a two year old is 4 point

[@garrettstraffon608]

I’ve never believed once a spike always a spike, I live in pa and every spike I’ve seen is a young deer. I’ve never seen a old spike. Maybe a older 6 point but not a spike

[@donaldhall2316]

See what happens next year

[@jchuston]

First!

[@kurtpearson2793]

Very fast! Season starts soon, keep practicing!

[@jchuston]

@@kurtpearson2793 ha ha. YES!

[@terrydewayne7690]

T minus 54 days and 12 hours.......

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen Terry!

[@terrydewayne7690]

@Number 1 Western Fan grrrrrrr 😜

[@kurtpearson2793]

First

[@kurtpearson2793]

@Number 1 Western Fan Wow! Did I ever! September opener has people excited-

[@leonj1102]

The short answer is. When he's legal and you havent been able to kill some meat yet!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

😁 For sure...

[@joelaskey2121]

Shit.. The bucks shown through image you referring to whilst explaining… those bucks are something to tell a non fiction story about how a he came in,what shot angle, “how he did the opposite of what you wanted him to do”…but you patiently waited and did the other way, and when you’d been dragging your harvest for a mile + you get to your truck & the folks in the parking lot getting ready to head In hear the story 1st! Feed the neighborhood that’s been so good to you 2nd and explain again

[@agwhoneedsaphd2643]

Our rule is if are less than 5x5 and 3.5 and older and you want the meat takem. Otherwise you just can't dump a 5x5 or greater if they aren't high 150's.

[@Billy-rq9hs]

Good for you. Super predator.

[@billcook9200]

First!

[@kurtpearson2793]

Super fast today! Get ready for the September opener, Harvest the “first” and win a prize 👍

[@archeryaddict8652]

What if my opener is august 26th ? Can i still win with a head start ? Lol

[@kurtpearson2793]

@@archeryaddict8652 opener is based on Minnesota archery and slug opener 👍