Do you think it hurts your herd
 

To only kill the trophy bucks and to leave the smaller bucks? Do you think that over time it will hurt the size of the deer you can grow?

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

No.

Over time you will see more, larger bucks. At the same time, if you are keeping the number of does in check, you'll have competition for breeding rights and a better herd overall.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

No, you just need to know which bucks to cull out every so often.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

I don't grow deer, I like mine well aged;)

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

Not even even a thought if you ask me! Like Greg said you will improve your bucks size wise by shooting only the big boys or the bigger bucks. How is your buck herd going to get bigger size wise if a person keeps taking out the little guys? It won't happen. Another thing Greg said too you also have to manage the doe herd as well.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

How could it be adversely affected (by what you describe)?

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

Where I was coming from is, you always hear about genes this and genes that. Well if you are shooting the deer with the best genes all the time do you think it may effect the herd that way. I guess thats where smart culling comes into play.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

The fact you let that deer get old and you could tell what his genes are, is a good thing;) He got to breed a bit, and no one can Cull a wild heard. It's impossible, too many varibles. Only in a HF can "culling" be done.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

When people refer to a deers genetics, they have to understand that the deer has the same genes the day it was born till the day it dies. The only difference is that a mature deer has had the time that it takes for it to achieve its maximum potential that the genes allow it. Killing young bucks does nothing to alter the genes. Passing on younger smaller bucks allows those deer to reach their full potential, therefore you will see more and larger deer.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

You are refering to killing only the largest deer of X age class - over time in theory, since the deer you kill get less chance to breed - the overall size of X age class will go down.

I do not think this is true. 1) Many bucks are able to breed a lot of does before being harvested. 2) Does have 50% of the genetics of any offspring they produce and it is hard to tell a doe with large antler genetics! 3) Not all the 'big' bucks get shot - not even a large proportion of them every year in my area. If you took 100% of all 3.5 year olds grossing over 140 out in my area, every year, and left the smaller ones - I think it would still take many many years to notice anything. Survival of the fittest(which is what this concept is) takes a loooong time for certain genetic trends to become mainstream.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

I agree!! I hate that word cull!!

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

In the wild it is impossible to manage the genetics. Young bucks relocate at 1 year old. New and different genetics will always be introduced. Mother nature has her genetic management plan. Who knows, maybe an inferior buck mixed with the right doe could produce a monster rack. The doe is said to be half responsable for the rack of her fawn.

To answer your question : NO

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RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

x2. That is exactly correct. A 2.5 year old buck mating with a doe will pass on the same genes as when he is 5.5 years old. The biggest difference is you've given him 3 more years of reproduction plus three more years for maturity to show what his genes are made of.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

Hmmm....if you are decimating the younger deer and leaving the bigger bucks you are certainly establishing an age structure in the herd. How will there only be young bucks left if thats what you are killing?

If you are truly into herd management and have the resources to accomplish such a monumental task, you would be out there identifying as many bucks as possible and then killing the aging bucks when their racks start showing some degeneration. This would take several years of constant observation and is near impossible for the average land/lease owner.

Take a look at how hunting inGermany works and you will see the above paragraph in action. Their leases are 10-15 years and the hunt master or lease owner is in charge of multiple hunters that are in the fields daily studying the racks of the herd. The decision is made before the season on which deer are to be taken and they stick to it.Rarely will they let you take an animal of your choice.

That being said, management in regards to bucks is irrelevant in the majority of situations. Shoot whatever floats you boat or fill your freezer.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

No..you just need to know how to identify an odd ball and nock them out....however...I think every deer will grow something good if you let them get to 4.5.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

I would have to disagree with that there are some bucks out there that will never amount to anything it does have alot to do with genetics my muzzle loader buck this year was a prime example i have his sheds from the last 2 years which put his age around 5 1/2 when i shot him in the 3 years that i knew this deer he may have only grew 15" in mass and circumfrance. I also piked up a shed from another buck this year that i have the same side from last year no noticeable differance and he will likely be a 3 pointer this year as well.

RE: Do you think it hurts your herd
 

The "culling that Germ was refering to on the first page is called Directional Selection. He is right that you can't "cull" a natural herd they must bein a High Fence encloser. The only places where Directional Selection has taken place in the wild are in extremely secluded areas usually islands like the galopagos.