I think they have earned there right to live ther and die of old age. There not going to hurt anything , and it sounds like your property can support many more deer with out going over the carying capacity. we did that on my property, we had one buck that somebody gave us. that buck lived to be 10 years old
WOULD LIKE YOUR OPINION AND INPUT PLEASE
Several years ago I bought a 650 acre ranch and high fenced it. This property is all native South Texas brush and is very thick and dense. After killing 95% of the native deer I brought in both bucks and does with superior genetics to try and improve the quality of deer on the ranch and have had tremendous success. All of these deer were just turned loose in the 650 acres. The original bucks (3) and does (9) that I bought were turned loose with tags in their ears so we could identify them from any native deer that may have escaped our initial harvest. These 3 bucks are now beyond their prime breeding and antler growing years and contribute nothing to the ranch because now there are much better deer of prime breeding age. In your opinion would you pay to shoot a 150 to 160 class wild deer that happens to have a tag in his ear or should I just eliminate them from the property on my own? These deer are wild animals and difficult if not impossible to find except during the rut. It would be nice to recoup some of my investment if possible but I just want to know how other people feel about this before I make my descision. I am split right down the middle and can see both sides and would like to hear other peoples honest opinions without this turning into a high fence low fence, pen raised bashing issue.
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I have shot deer that have been 11 years old with no teeth. they were big boys too. honestly in my opinion I would let them live a couple of more years. does can be bread up to 8 years old and bcuks will still breed. if they have good genes there is not point in killing htem until they are 8 years old at least. I would keep them. if you only have 650 acres then keep them for a while. I would not worry about them, but worry about your buck to doe ratio. you want to make sure that you keep that a good 1:1 or at the most 1:2 buckt o doe. sounds like you have good plan but those are my two cense about what to do. you have everything under control right now you dont want to mess it up by getting a 1:3 or 1:4 buck to doe ratio.
Soap, I don't claim to be a whitetail expert nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn express last night but when you get a chance look up the term ''Line Breeding'' In the whitetail breeding world this ''inbreeding'' is actually what some ranches may want to strive for. The largest breeder bucks produced and the genetics their offspring carry are a result of letting the deer with the best genetics breed to their kin folk with the same genetics.. This allows them to keep the top blood line going without bringing in undesired genetics.. What I'm saying is that on this 650 ac. tract culling out the inferior and letting the best genetics inbreed may be the way to go...check it out...Walker
Soapeddler said:You're going to have fathers breeding their daughters and brothers breeding their sisters; first cousins, etc. etc. etc. I know this may happen on low fenced and free range areas, but on a small ranch with no escape...it's guaranteed.
I'm no wildlife biologist, just my .02
i would think a deer mount on the wall with a tag still in his ear would be quite a conversation piece.
Sureshot & TreatTreat6238 said:I have shot deer that have been 11 years old with no teeth. they were big boys too. honestly in my opinion I would let them live a couple of more years. does can be bread up to 8 years old and bcuks will still breed. if they have good genes there is not point in killing htem until they are 8 years old at least. I would keep them. if you only have 650 acres then keep them for a while. I would not worry about them, but worry about your buck to doe ratio. you want to make sure that you keep that a good 1:1 or at the most 1:2 buckt o doe. sounds like you have good plan but those are my two cense about what to do. you have everything under control right now you dont want to mess it up by getting a 1:3 or 1:4 buck to doe ratio.
I understand what you are saying but I am near the carrying capacity on my property. I know these deer have good genetics but there are several other younger bucks with much better genetics. The deer I am talking about shooting are 7 1/2 years old and will likely do little breeding when thrown in with 4 1/2 & 5 1/2 year old deer. I would rather have a 200 class 3 year old breeding the does this year instead of a 155" 7 year old if he can even get the job done. My thought was since I have to keep the numbers in check I might as well sell a couple of hunts, generate a little revenue and let somebody kill a deer that is a trophy by most anybody's standards.
They tried that in Arkansas on the human population, did'nt work... hehehehehehRack Ranch said:Soap, I don't claim to be a whitetail expert nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn express last night but when you get a chance look up the term ''Line Breeding'' In the whitetail breeding world this ''inbreeding'' is actually what some ranches may want to strive for. The largest breeder bucks produced and the genetics their offspring carry are a result of letting the deer with the best genetics breed to their kin folk with the same genetics.. This allows them to keep the top blood line going without bringing in undesired genetics.. What I'm saying is that on this 650 ac. tract culling out the inferior and letting the best genetics inbreed may be the way to go...check it out...Walker
A little off topic, but not much. Does a buck have the exact same genetics when he is 1 that he will have when he is 8 yrs. old? In other words, if an exceptional buck breeds when he is young and does so throught his lifetime until he is 8 or so will his offspring have the same potential no matter what his age?
I would think so as long as he can get the job done. Most 8 year old breed very little if any due to the competition from the 4 and 5 year old deer. In a penned situation this isn't a problem but in the wild they have the same problem us old guys do. Hard to compete with the young studs.Pocboy said:A little off topic, but not much. Does a buck have the exact same genetics when he is 1 that he will have when he is 8 yrs. old? In other words, if an exceptional buck breeds when he is young and does so throught his lifetime until he is 8 or so will his offspring have the same potential no matter what his age?
When you say "us" old guys, you were refering only to yourself, correct? LOL
ABSOLUTELYPocboy said:When you say "us" old guys, you were refering only to yourself, correct? LOL
I would take the bucks off. I would have no problem hunting them, but I probably would not spend what you will be asking (what they are worth).
You will have to keep a close eye on the hunters or only get ones that you really trust, to keep them from shooting the really nice younger bucks...you know....by mistake.
You will have to keep a close eye on the hunters or only get ones that you really trust, to keep them from shooting the really nice younger bucks...you know....by mistake.
Were those deer native to Texas, or did you import them from another state?
Did I miss somewhere in the posts as to what those 3 bucks originally scored in their prime? All I keep seeing is 150-160. I don't want to put in my .02 until I got all the facts.
All I have is Texas deer and they were 175-190 in their best years.2GOOD said:Did I miss somewhere in the posts as to what those 3 bucks originally scored in their prime? All I keep seeing is 150-160. I don't want to put in my .02 until I got all the facts.
I would at least try to sell them before just getting rid of them. It sounds like they have done their job since you have younger and better scoring deer than these 3 bucks ever were. Don't worry about finding people to shoot them. They will cut that tag out of that ear and it will probably never be mentioned again. You have a to show some income from somewhere.
If you are in the business of raising and selling deer (hunts) then by all means do what is good for the business. If it were a bull would you let it him die of old age are take him to market.
I really appreciate all of the replies from everyone. I can't believe all of the positive response I got on this one. It took me 5 minutes to hit the submit post button because I figured there would be a lynching over this and I was gonna be at the wrong end of the rope.
If you find the tags are a value detractor it may be worth while to tranquilze them and remove the tags unless you need them for ID. Personally I don't think you'll have trouble selling the hunt.
that is very true.... heck if they ask why theres a hole in the ear just say he was alpha buck and fought with other bucks....LOL
Laguna Freak said:If you find the tags are a value detractor it may be worth while to tranquilze them and remove the tags unless you need them for ID. Personally I don't think you'll have trouble selling the hunt.
IMHO I would kill them myself and have them mounted and displayed in my home or lodge. That way you could have them for all time to look at and talk about how the herd got started originally. It would be nice to see how far the original genetics(looks and horn developement) went in years to come. Also I can understand getting money back from your investment. This will probably be your call. Just mt 2 cents.PortATrout said:Several years ago I bought a 650 acre ranch and high fenced it. This property is all native South Texas brush and is very thick and dense. After killing 95% of the native deer I brought in both bucks and does with superior genetics to try and improve the quality of deer on the ranch and have had tremendous success. All of these deer were just turned loose in the 650 acres. The original bucks (3) and does (9) that I bought were turned loose with tags in their ears so we could identify them from any native deer that may have escaped our initial harvest. These 3 bucks are now beyond their prime breeding and antler growing years and contribute nothing to the ranch because now there are much better deer of prime breeding age. In your opinion would you pay to shoot a 150 to 160 class wild deer that happens to have a tag in his ear or should I just eliminate them from the property on my own? These deer are wild animals and difficult if not impossible to find except during the rut. It would be nice to recoup some of my investment if possible but I just want to know how other people feel about this before I make my descision. I am split right down the middle and can see both sides and would like to hear other peoples honest opinions without this turning into a high fence low fence, pen raised bashing issue.
21 - 40 of 42 Posts
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