Injured or Cull or Both

[RJK70]

Got this buck on camera several times. His body is big compared to the rest of the deer. Nice 4 point on one side and deformed on the other.

Should he be taken as a management buck or let walk in hopes he has a full rack next year?



Sorry for poor quality.

[.270]

Big body...maybe still some potential?

[Houghtown]

It may just be an injury. He looks pretty healthy other than that one horn.
We have a bunch on our place that the right side is normal, but the left side is all screwed up. Ours are genetics.

[175gr7.62]

Dirt nap on my place.

[Sippy]

Probably injured.

[RJK70]

Here's his good side

[C-beck]

Take him out

[JMG]

I would take him even if he had both sides good.

[ajavelina]

Smoke him. Is it just a main beam and a brow? Usually an injured pedicel will throw a little trash on the base. If you don't have any history on him it's really just a crap shoot. Injury nutrition or genetics could be the reason. Without the prior history there is no definate answer. If you need the excuse to shoot him use it if you need one to save him you have it.

[cbrown]

I would take him even if he had both sides good.

Yep, time for burgers and steaks out of him

[rtp]

What does your management plan call for you to do? Why are you asking a bunch of people who know nothing about your deer herd whether you should shoot him? He probably damaged it while growing it this year. In my experience it is a one year thing. I have only had two bucks I know of carry his damage from year to year. One of them had 14 scorable points when he was taken at 6.5. The other I took at 5.5 and he had a 2 huge moose type paddles on his "bad" side. Unknown to me, he broke one off before I shot him. One buck isn't going to make a difference one way or the other in your deer herd. If you like him shoot him.

[nathank]

Injured or Cull or Both

What does your management plan call for you to do? Why are you asking a bunch of people who know nothing about your deer herd whether you should shoot him? He probably damaged it while growing it this year. In my experience it is a one year thing. I have only had two bucks I know of carry his damage from year to year. One of them had 14 scorable points when he was taken at 6.5. The other I took at 5.5 and he had a 2 huge moose type paddles on his "bad" side. Unknown to me, he broke one off before I shot him. One buck isn't going to make a difference one way or the other in your deer herd. If you like him shoot him.

Unless I missed something asking questions was the purpose of this and most all Internet forums.....?! I do understand the occasional poking fun and goofing around but, I believe your comment was uncalled for!

[CastAndBlast]

Unless I missed something asking questions was the purpose of this and most all Internet forums.....?! I do understand the occasional poking fun and goofing around but, I believe your comment was uncalled for!

Do what???? What comment was in called for?

rtp, along with many others on this forum are very well versed in deer herd management (from what I interpret in their posts). There are a lot more variables in culling deer than what can be determined from a picture. Hence the questions. A lot of people will throw out the "whack or walk" advice without knowing the management plan for that particular herd.

To the OP, personally, I would give that deer a pass. I would have to assume it was an injury if this is the first year you have seen that "trait". The deer is healthy, so he might be perfect next year. If not, whack him. One thing to remember is that deer spread their genetics, not their horns. That deer might be a 160 class 10 with a damaged pedicle. If so, he will look like crap, but his genetics are still a 160 class 10. There is still the question of what is your management plan? If he is inferior to your other bucks in the same age class, if you need to thin the herd, etc. then get to whacking.

[rtp]

Unless I missed something asking questions was the purpose of this and most all Internet forums.....?! I do understand the occasional poking fun and goofing around but, I believe your comment was uncalled for!

Calm down there brother. I did answer his question with some specifics as well as posing a couple of questions for him and others to think about. Too many just answer with CULL, Shoot Him, etc. without knowing anything about the situation. Hopefully the OP didn't take my comment the wrong way because it was meant to be educational.

Also, I am a huge supporter of everyone hunting their own way and with different motivation and goals. I will never criticize anyone for what they shoot. If you like it shoot it. But if you want to talk management it doesn't start with culling. In fact, culling is the very last step after you have a handle one every other aspect of your habitat and deer herd.

[systemnt]

Cull on our place.