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Trophy or cull
#8470487
12/09/21 01:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,770
spacejunkie
OP
Veteran Tracker
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OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,770 |
each lease has different standards I am sure because of location and population. What are the standards on your lease(s)? Also what is you policy on does? I know this has probably been brought up before but I am lazy and don't want to try and look it up.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470508
12/09/21 01:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
If it's brown it's down!
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470513
12/09/21 01:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,948
Davis300
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,948 |
Trophy in the eye of the beholder. In my case, at least 5.5 years old. Kids shoot anything less than 8 at 2.5 and all spikes. 1:1 ratio so does removed accordingly. 8 does and 2 culls this year. Just my opinion.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470590
12/09/21 02:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466 |
This topic requires way too much time for me to address during hunting season. Ill check back after the season.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470630
12/09/21 03:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,645
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,645 |
IMO trophy = mature buck, minimum 5.5 years of age. While I'd always shoot the biggest buck in a same-age group, score means less to me any more than finding an older deer and hunting for him.
Does? Don't get me started. Balancing the ratio and getting numbers down to carrying capacity are extremely important. Buck mortality will insure that you rarely have to shoot high numbers of bucks in order to do either one.
My preferred doe harvest order:
Dry doe, although I try not to shoot yearling (1.5yr old) does Doe with large single fawn Doe with large twins Doe with small single fawn Doe with small twins
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470725
12/09/21 05:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,952
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,952 |
5 years old minimum, unless its a cull type deer then I will shoot them at 4. We have some 7 points that are rachety that I don't mind letting go at 3 either.
Does I figure on a per year basis but I try and shoot at least 4 off the place every year because all my neighbors refused to do any doe harvest.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470739
12/09/21 05:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,063
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,063 |
Would like to say bucks at 4.5 but reality is 3.5 years. Doe some don't care to shoot.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8470958
12/09/21 09:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 831
bphillips
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 831 |
Trophy 7.5+ and 160”+ “Management” 7.5+ and generally 140”-150+” that doesn’t make anyone’s trophy pick “Cull” 7.5+ and noticeably inferior to the two above. Some exceptions can be made to include 5.5+ for 6-7 points
For does we shoot as many as we do bucks at a minimum and will hit them hard if the numbers are too high depending on the year.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: bphillips]
#8470963
12/09/21 09:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466 |
Trophy 7.5+ and 160”+ “Management” 7.5+ and generally 140”-150+” that doesn’t make anyone’s trophy pick “Cull” 7.5+ and noticeably inferior to the two above. Some exceptions can be made to include 5.5+ for 6-7 points
For does we shoot as many as we do bucks at a minimum and will hit them hard if the numbers are too high depending on the year. bphillips, in your case would you knock a year off that 7.5 if you weren’t feeding protein?
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: freerange]
#8471114
12/10/21 12:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 831
bphillips
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 831 |
Trophy 7.5+ and 160”+ “Management” 7.5+ and generally 140”-150+” that doesn’t make anyone’s trophy pick “Cull” 7.5+ and noticeably inferior to the two above. Some exceptions can be made to include 5.5+ for 6-7 points
For does we shoot as many as we do bucks at a minimum and will hit them hard if the numbers are too high depending on the year. bphillips, in your case would you knock a year off that 7.5 if you weren’t feeding protein? Not on trophies but we probably wouldn’t chance many at all up to 9-10 without the feed. That’s on Mexico lease. Our family property around San Angelo doesn’t have the same mineral rich soil and browse so there you can’t push the age as far. All areas are different for sure
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8471157
12/10/21 01:10 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658
GusWayne
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658 |
Depends, lots of factors
I just know my situation
To me high 140’s, 4.5
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8471254
12/10/21 02:45 AM
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778
Double AC
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778 |
Does - we have a 2-1 ratio we are trying to bring down to 1.5/1-1 so shoot on sight unless with a clearly young fawn or if hot in which case roll the dice and wait on the buck.
Bucks - start shooting at 5yrs. Last six bucks ages have gone 7, 8, 5, 6, 5, 7. Our one neighbor who actively hunts will shoot 3 and 4yr olds but we’ve shown him the jumps our deer have made from 4-5 and we might have convinced him this year to let the middle aged bucks go which would be great for both of us.
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8474746
12/13/21 10:03 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 429
Exiled
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 429 |
For us, a "trophy" is a mature deer (4.5+) with a rack bigger than a main-frame 8. small junk and kickers don't count, but an extra tine takes it over a main-frame 8 so he becomes a "trophy" that counts against quota. Very large or particularly wide mainframe 8s also count towards trophy quota.
Culls are mature bucks (4.5+) that are mainframe 7 or below, or are still spikes (we don't shoot the young spikes), or maybe some deformity that's carried over the years or a particularly narrow "basket", and all hunters have to agree that it's a cull. We usually reserve those for youth hunters or guests.
"Who Dares, Wins" Instagram: @HCConnected
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Re: Trophy or cull
[Re: spacejunkie]
#8474992
12/14/21 02:49 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 236
Herron
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 236 |
I'm migrating into the "trophy equals old" camp. Nature is tough and anything over 5 years has put in the work.
That said, I'll also cull on a selective basis. Last year, I was watching a young but promising 8 and similar 9 hang out at the feeder. Then a slightly larger, and older 7 point came in and acted like he owned the place. I'm in a 1 buck county but it was late in the season so shooting the 7 was a no brainer for me.
A trophy is in the eye of the beholder, and I'll never question the judgment of a happy hunter. But, for me, if you don't let them get old, how will you ever know what they could be?
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