deer management/family question

My dad and his cousin hunted for 35 years together and i have hunted the past 10 years. My dad past away 5 years ago so now it is just my dads cousin and myself. He is 68 years old and i am 35. We hunt on 225 acres in the hill country and i do everything i can to build a better deer heard. I plant food plots and feed protein in a free choice protein feeder. I take the time to run up and fill the feeder all the time and pay for the protein. He pays me for the seed and fertilizer on food plots but i do all the work. We dont have ar in our county and I pass on good looking young deer all the time. If a buck is 14" no matter age he shoots it. He wants meat and doesnt care about management. I tell him to shoot does but they dont have as much meat and if he shoots two does he has to do twice the work. He also says that if he passes on the buck someone else will shoot it. We dont have that much pressure around us though. I dont want to argue with him or get off because he would be left by himself and would give up hunting. He is family so i dont want to mess that up. Just want to know if their is any way to make him see that he needs to let the deer get older before he shoots. It is really frustrating. Not sure if i should stop the protein and food plots and just feed corn right before the season starts or what? Just wanted to vent and see if any of you had any advice? Thanks.

If it was me I would leave him alone. The guy is 68 and can still hunt. If he wants the deer he can shoot the deer as far as I'm concerned.

Not much you can do. He is only shooting 1-2 bucks per year. Yeah that is probably young bucks. But just try to set an example by shooting your does early and cleaning one or two for him to have his meat. If you only shoot bucks that are older he might start to see the difference. The more you pressure him the more his will bow up.

I don't see how him killing 1 or 2 deer a yr could hurt the age structure all that much as long as it's just you and him.

I am with Bo323. Just because you want something done your way doesn't mean anyone else does. What if he insisted you only shoot a certain type of buck? I am 69 years old and I sure as heck would not appreciate someone telling me what I can or cannot shoot. But you are the one that thinks you have a problem so you are the one that either has to live with it or solve it.

I feel for you and your goals, but that man is your elder and family. I'd be happy he was out there with you and helping anyway he can. He also probably has some untapped wisdom with regards to hunting and life that is extremely valuable. Sounds like you have an excellent land or lease partner. Take care of him. He probably has some awesome stories about your father as well. Just my two cents.

I feel your pain. I experience the exact same thing as you. Don't stop your protein or food plots. IMO that's one of the best things you can do. I cant see one guy hurting the buck population at all. The problem is when you get several shooting bucks like that every year and that is what I'm experiencing (neighbors). I've said stuff numerous times and it goes in one ear and out the other. The whole "if I don't shoot it then someone else will" thing is about the dumbest reasoning I have ever heard to justify shooting a deer. I hear it all the time. It's because of that thinking that some places never get mature deer big deer. Almost makes one start thinking about a high fence...

Being realistic about it, with only 225 acres under your control, your efforts to manage/improve the herd are not going to make any kind of significant impact anyhow. Sure, every little bit helps, but you might as well let him enjoy his hunt and harvest as he sees fit.

At 68, I doubt he is a huge impact, what 2 bucks maybe, you have mentioned ideas and he has his. I think I'd move on to the next issue. He comes from an are when hunting was hunting and it wasn't all about score, I'd enjoy my time with him while he can still go.

I have the EXACT issue where I hunt. My father in law is a meat hunter and doesn't really like to hunt all that much but likes the meat (I usually give him the first deer I shoot). Brother in law wants to be Jim Shockey but shoots everything that moves (and doesn't even have a license). We hunt a small 60-acre farm and I feed year-round as well. I just hope what I do helps a small bit to future generations.

As far as your situation: not much you can do (or should do). Just enjoy the old codger. But surely you're only helping the deer herd-anything is something.

I agree with what most have already said, he's 68, probably won't impact the herd much at all especially if you don't have much pressure on that area as you stated. My only tid bit is you might point out to him if he's worried about letting a buck walk because the neighbor will shoot it......he is that neighbor.

Let him shoot what he wants and help him clean them as well. Just enjoy the time you have with him.

Family or not, that might warrant an anonymous call to the GW if it were me. Is there a reason he doesn't have a license like he can't afford one or did he lose his for some reason?

It did warrant a call to the GW. He was issued a fine (as was his girlfriend/sister in law). Fine was paid but still owes money to the state. Hasn't hunted the property this year and still can't get a license. That's one reason I'm not hunting the family place.

-sorry for the hijack

Tell him you will do the work for him on two does... Rather than kill a young buck...
If you shoot a buck cuz the neighbor will kill him... Then you become that neighbor.

This is a smart idea.

^^This^^
To OP....Hunted with my elderly uncle for years....he was just like your dads cousin. My unc was a hoot and a ton of fun but shot young bucks every year. Really had no impact on our deer herd and it was in HC and not much bigger than your place.
Enjoy the moment.

I am 80. I own my 150 acre ranch and shoot a doe every year for my venison sausage. I pay for the corn and do the upkeep on the cabin. Some 35 year old son in law tries to tell me what to shoot, his [censored] gets run off..

Well that about sums this thread up! Different generations - different ways - at the end of the day let him do his thing and you do yours

yep

It sounds like you have mentioned your viewpoint, and he shares a different view. Since this is not a legal or safety issue, I suggest letting it go. On another note, after this season you could try skipping the food plot(s), and all off-season feeding. When the season approaches, turn on the corn feeders. See how the hunting goes, and then plan for next year.

He's been at it a long time, his two buck aren't going to balance of the deer heard in your area. Just fill all your doe tags be happy you have family to hunt with. There's more important things in life to argue over.

Not everyone shares your opinion of the importance of managing for larger racks. Enjoy his company while you can and let him shoot what he wants to.

Keep your food plots and protein feeder(s) going. Perhaps you will be able to hold a few more deer/acre than your neighbors. This will help to offset your uncle's harvest. He hunts because he loves to and he kills two bucks because he likes to eat venison and wants the most bang for his buck. You can try and change your uncle and you'll both be miserable. Or you can make the best of the situation and be thankful you have a place to hunt with "family".

Don't ever pick hunting or anything for that matter over family. Just enjoy the time you have b/c believe it or not he is probably happy you are there and enjoying every minute of it. I have my dad here with me this week and miss having him with me and we still hunt together in the same blind every chance we get.