I have heard different opinions on this, so I come here for the expert opinion!!

I have heard that a 1 yo buck can be a button buck, 3 point or so and a basket 6 or so. So how do you judge which deer should be shot as a cull?
This week I saw buttons, spikes, small (8 inch main beam) 6 point running does all over the place. Then we see a 20 inch 10 point walking around not making babies.
I doubt this is making any sense. But, how can you tell if a young buck has potential?

Lots of views, no answers. Must be a good question!

Clint,

There is a guy here on the Forum, that has a link in his sig about shooting spikes. James D. Kroll and some other fella done a 12 year study, on low fence ranches in South Texas, and found that once a buck gets 4.5 years of age, that there wasnt any differance in horn size, between yearling spikes and fork horns. With being said, if your seeing young fork horns, IMO, i would take a spike for a cull. Thats just my opinion.

Here you go. its in the 3rd post.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1105993/Spike_bucks#Post1105993

Thats some great information Stickchunker. - Thanks!

No Problem.

On a button buck there is no way to tell. Most of the time you are lucky to be able to tell it's a button buck.

Where I live, I wouldn't be killing spikes that are less than 3.5 based on body size. There are too many variables, mostly related to the weather conditions while momma was pregnant than to make a judgement as to whether said buck has any potential.

If you find a 1.5 yo 6 point, by all means let him walk! That ought to be a no brainer. If he's 2.5 and 6 pts I'd leave him alone. Again, much of that part depends on weather conditions during the antler cycle for that year. Supplementing or not could also have an impact.

Young bucks breeding, there will always be some young ones that get lucky. When the doe is ready she is ready and the big boys can't be everywhere at once.

My OPINION is to wait until body size and antlers pretty much match and even that is not always a lead pipe cinch. Glass 'em real well, watch their behavior and interaction with the other deer around, particularily at a feed pen. That will give you some idea of where they are in the pecking order. But, remember the oldest deer there isn't always the dominant one.

I'm glad somebody got some use out of my sig.

My opinion is to not shoot any bucks, for genetic purposes, until they are 3 1/2. I don't believe 2 1/2 year old deer do any significant breeding, therefore it is worth it, to me, to let them go to 3 1/2. The only deer that I would shoot at 3 1/2 are main frame 6 points and smaller. Everything else gets a pass until at least the next year.

You should never shoot a nubbin buck...ever. None of the bucks you listed were culls. A cull is a buck with undesirable characteristics. You can't see their potential in their first 2 years, most of their food goes to growing their body.

I think he asked, and no one answered yet, whether a 6 months old buck (a fawn) can be other than a button buck. I'd be interested to know. I've always believed that every 6 month old buck would only have buttons.

Adam_p,

Im glad you posted that in your sig. it was a good read.

I have seen them with very small spikes also. I have seen them in a pen with 4 or so inch spikes. But for the most part you are right.

And Justin T is right, you should never ever ever shoot a button buck. It does happen on accident though when people are trying to shoot does. This is another reason I am against shooting young does. If you only shoot your older does, you will probably not mistake a button buck for a doe.

oh yeah, I have a yearling 9 point hanging out. Hopefully the neighbors wont bust him before he reaches the giant status I hope he will. History tells me other wise though.