GottaGetOutdoors
Senior Member
Research does not support culling. There is a considerable amount of peer-reviewed research on culling. Conclusions support the position that culling simply does not work in free range deer herds. Killing Ol’ 5x1 may make you feel like you contributed to herd improvement, but his absence will not move the genetics needle. Here is what we know:
1. Culling is more subjective than objective. There is a saying that a weed is nothing but a plant growing where it is not wanted. Can you name five visible traits that make a buck genetically inferior? Try asking 100 hunters to define “cull” buck. You will get about 100 answers, and almost none backed by science. One man’s cull is another man’s trophy. I’ve been on Texas ranches where a buck is culled if less than 10 points at age 2.5. Another ranch culled any mature buck with less than 6” brow tines. Big difference between a buck that is genetically “inferior” and a buck that is personally “undesirable.” Culling based on personal preferences is granting a license to kill with no science to back it up. In my experience, hunters use it as a get-out-of-jail-card for making a questionable kill.
2. Case of mistaken identity. We all know stories of a buck with messed up rack. ‘Old 5x1’ has 5 typical points on one side and a spike on the other. Or some kind of deformed antler on one side. Research shows this is often due to injury - on the opposite side from the deformed antler - and will self-correct in future years. But even if Ol’ 5x1 buck’s antler pedicle injury is permanent and he bears the same weird rack YOY, he may in fact possess superior genetics and could sire the next state record.
2. The doe contributes over 50% of a buck fawn's DNA - including his antler traits. To measurably improve herd genetics, it is necessary to cull genetically inferior does too. So now imagine how unfeasible it is to identify and cull "inferior" bucks and "inferior" does.
3. Culling can work when you control selective breeding, such as in breeder pens to mate a specific buck (known pedigree) with a specific doe (known pedigree). Impossible in the wild. Consider the number of breeding age does and bucks at the herd level. No way to selectively pair a specific buck and doe in a free-range herd. No way to control breeding of bucks with desired antler characteristics. And no way to identify a doe with those same desired antler characteristics. Likewise, it is unfeasible to expect that culling a single animal can remove what is believed to be an undesirable genetic trait.
4. Genetic traits can skip a generation. We all know a tall couple who have short kids and a short couple with tall kids. Maybe you have twins in your family that occur every other generation. Point is, the buck you've identified as a cull may carry superior buck traits that will be expressed in his progeny.
Here's what you can do to improve your herd. Set reasonable expectations for what management can accomplish in your area. Focus your dollars and energy on improving habitat, improving doe-to-buck ratio, protecting underage bucks, increasing fawn survival, controlling nuisance animals, and reducing hunting pressure. Accept that genetics are a fixed part of the equation that you cannot change. Ignore the gimmick peddlers who suggest otherwise. There is absolutely zero chance that genetics are improved by killing a buck that someone deems inferior.
Enjoy managing what you have. It's fine to take deer management seriously as many of us do. Just be careful to never regulate the fun out of hunting.
1. Culling is more subjective than objective. There is a saying that a weed is nothing but a plant growing where it is not wanted. Can you name five visible traits that make a buck genetically inferior? Try asking 100 hunters to define “cull” buck. You will get about 100 answers, and almost none backed by science. One man’s cull is another man’s trophy. I’ve been on Texas ranches where a buck is culled if less than 10 points at age 2.5. Another ranch culled any mature buck with less than 6” brow tines. Big difference between a buck that is genetically “inferior” and a buck that is personally “undesirable.” Culling based on personal preferences is granting a license to kill with no science to back it up. In my experience, hunters use it as a get-out-of-jail-card for making a questionable kill.
2. Case of mistaken identity. We all know stories of a buck with messed up rack. ‘Old 5x1’ has 5 typical points on one side and a spike on the other. Or some kind of deformed antler on one side. Research shows this is often due to injury - on the opposite side from the deformed antler - and will self-correct in future years. But even if Ol’ 5x1 buck’s antler pedicle injury is permanent and he bears the same weird rack YOY, he may in fact possess superior genetics and could sire the next state record.
2. The doe contributes over 50% of a buck fawn's DNA - including his antler traits. To measurably improve herd genetics, it is necessary to cull genetically inferior does too. So now imagine how unfeasible it is to identify and cull "inferior" bucks and "inferior" does.
3. Culling can work when you control selective breeding, such as in breeder pens to mate a specific buck (known pedigree) with a specific doe (known pedigree). Impossible in the wild. Consider the number of breeding age does and bucks at the herd level. No way to selectively pair a specific buck and doe in a free-range herd. No way to control breeding of bucks with desired antler characteristics. And no way to identify a doe with those same desired antler characteristics. Likewise, it is unfeasible to expect that culling a single animal can remove what is believed to be an undesirable genetic trait.
4. Genetic traits can skip a generation. We all know a tall couple who have short kids and a short couple with tall kids. Maybe you have twins in your family that occur every other generation. Point is, the buck you've identified as a cull may carry superior buck traits that will be expressed in his progeny.
Here's what you can do to improve your herd. Set reasonable expectations for what management can accomplish in your area. Focus your dollars and energy on improving habitat, improving doe-to-buck ratio, protecting underage bucks, increasing fawn survival, controlling nuisance animals, and reducing hunting pressure. Accept that genetics are a fixed part of the equation that you cannot change. Ignore the gimmick peddlers who suggest otherwise. There is absolutely zero chance that genetics are improved by killing a buck that someone deems inferior.
Enjoy managing what you have. It's fine to take deer management seriously as many of us do. Just be careful to never regulate the fun out of hunting.
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