This is 100% correct.

EOT

Late to this thread but your post is pretty spot on. Manage your numbers to ensure the bucks with the most potential have the best opportunity to reach it. By reducing the competition for those resources with bucks that have a perceived genetic disadvantage, it should be a net positive.

How people define culls is a totally different story…

Visual example......

We have several good bucks that made it through rifle season. Place has great genetics and all neighbors out to about 5000 acres in area are on the same page (or they say they are). Here are 2 recent bucks.

With the seeing the good, now would you consider these as culls or just young. I have my opinions, just curious of others.

I've never shot a 1.5 - 2.5 year old buck and don't plan on doing it for the foreseeable future. I would have zero reason to shoot those deer unless I just have an insane quota on MLD3 and have to start dropping bodies and the more mature bucks are too smart to shoot.

Grow'er vs Show'er.... lol

Someone is putting feed into antlers and the other into blubber.

Won't need much pork in that sausage

AgResearch said:

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Someone is putting feed into antlers and the other into blubber.

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If we managed deer like cattle instead of managing them like trophies...

Way to young to know…..
I really try and wait until a buck is at minimum 3.5 before I make a full decision and 4.5 on management decisions.

We shoot lots of sub 115" 4.5 year old bucks, those guys don't get a chance to grow much more.