What are you?

[Taff]

You would also be amazed how many people who sell trophy deer, call themselves deer managers.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

So nobody is a trophy hunter then??
I also reckon there may be a few trophy hunters who are in denial here!
Here’s another question then:
You are out on a nice summer afternoon and come across two roe bucks in a nice safe place to shoot – both virtually identical range and shot. They are both similar size but one is a small 4 pointer and the other is a probable silver/gold medal! Which one would you shoot? Be honest now!!!!!

 

[PointBlank]

So nobody is a trophy hunter then??
I also reckon there may be a few trophy hunters who are in denial here!
Here’s another question then:
You are out on a nice summer afternoon and come across two roe bucks in a nice safe place to shoot – both virtually identical range and shot. They are both similar size but one is a small 4 pointer and the other is a probable silver/gold medal! Which one would you shoot? Be honest now!!!!!

Both!

 

[Taff]

Both

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Ahhh ya buggers, hadn't thought of that one!

 

[Munty_Hunter]

classic.

 

[Jelendeer]

You would also be amazed how many people who sell trophy deer, call themselves deer managers.

Hmmmmm ..... In the work of a deer manager, the sale of trophy deer is an important economic element, and as long as the sale/harvest of trophy deer is in balance with, and part of the wider management plan, then no problems.

The problem, however, does arise when the 'pretend deer manager' is happy to squeeze the trigger on a top quality animal knowing that the animal should be left!!!! .... There are lots of those type of "deer managers" around!!! ...

 

[keith@honda]

i shoot whatever is legal but would probably go for a younger/weaker animal over a mature one,but if you shoot all the younger ones you are denying them the chance of becoming a trophy one, how do you stand then?

 

[PointBlank]

i shoot whatever is legal but would probably go for a younger/weaker animal over a mature one,but if you shoot all the younger ones you are denying them the chance of becoming a trophy one, how do you stand then?

I suppose it could be said you're still thinking of the trophy rather than the reduction of the population or whatever the management plan is.

 

[6pointer]

All ways leave the best animals to breed .Take the small ones out of the picture. If they don't make medals or ever reach there potential it makes no difference. What appears in the spring should determine what you take. Most people who don't have access to top quality animals will shoot a trophy if they get a chance and why not??

 

[keith@honda]

no i definately reduce the population i shoot mainly munties,both sexes,i have shot one weak four point roe not really bothered about trophies but i have had one measured but that was only out of interest as i could see it was bigger than anything i had shot at that point but all munties get shot regardless of size

 

[dlz90]

Ok so I so I tell you I am a deer manager not intrested in trophys so you will think I am a boasting, but then again if I tell you I am not intrested in trophys you will know I am lying !!!!!! will always try to find the balance IMHO

 

[Klenchblaize]

I HUNT WITH a RIFLE. The by-product of my passion albeit in a very limited capacity is that such is considered necessary and beneficial to those who've facilitated my passion.

Unless the Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust or some yet-to-be conceived amalgam of woodland owners wish to engage my services on a full-time and sensibly financed basis I would never consider myself a deer manager anymore than those who fail to address the doe/hind cull may bestow such a grand title upon their less than gold medal class service delivery.

My last point clearly a subJect in its own right and so acerbicly nailed in a recent ST article by Richard Prior. Albeit his no punches pulled bludgeoning of the winter duvet-hugging "Deer Manager" a clear surprise to those more use to his guru-like pronouncements in the joys of minimalist woodland stalking.

Cheers

K

 

[pheasant sniper 1]

So nobody is a trophy hunter then??
I also reckon there may be a few trophy hunters who are in denial here!
Here’s another question then:
You are out on a nice summer afternoon and come across two roe bucks in a nice safe place to shoot – both virtually identical range and shot. They are both similar size but one is a small 4 pointer and the other is a probable silver/gold medal! Which one would you shoot? Be honest now!!!!!

Id drop the Gold

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Id drop the Gold

At least you're honest mate!
I think another problem arises where there are a lot of smaller areas of land managed by several deer 'managers' who ultimately share the same deer. It then becomes a case of, "well, I might as well shoot the huge buck, because if I don't, my neighbour will!"
I reckon this type of opportunist trophy hunting is one of the biggest problems we have where there is no liaison or trust between neighbouring estates?
This is one of the main reasons why I don't believe that deer can be truly 'managed' unless you doing it over quite a large area. This problem is further exacerbated with the larger and more transient herding species which often get bounced from pillar to post with the best animals being taken out at every opportunity. Communication and general area deer management groups seem to work well, but not everyone is interested or in agreement. You then get the areas which won't allow any shooting! That's where you will then see a group of about 100 fallow laying out in the open sunning themselves! They're not stupid are they?!
MS

 

[dlz90]

At least you're honest mate!
I think another problem arises where there are a lot of smaller areas of land managed by several deer 'managers' who ultimately share the same deer. It then becomes a case of, "well, I might as well shoot the huge buck, because if I don't, my neighbour will!"
I reckon this type of opportunist trophy hunting is one of the biggest problems we have where there is no liaison or trust between neighbouring estates?
This is one of the main reasons why I don't believe that deer can be truly 'managed' unless you doing it over quite a large area. This problem is further exacerbated with the larger and more transient herding species which often get bounced from pillar to post with the best animals being taken out at every opportunity. Communication and general area deer management groups seem to work well, but not everyone is interested or in agreement. You then get the areas which won't allow any shooting! That's where you will then see a group of about 100 fallow laying out in the open sunning themselves! They're not stupid are they?!
MS

Unfortunately this really sums it up we just do not cooperate everyone loses out !!
but thats the way of the world I guess it wont change !!

 

[pip]

MS, are you saying that medal class deer shuold never feature in a cull plan? If so, how can you say you are managing deer across all age classes? You know the patch I shoot on and you know we have many medal class Sika. Because of the size of our cull plan you just cannot shoot one's with poor antlers/small bodies as there are too many good ones aswell. Not only that, I have shot sika that are well over ten years old and arthritic and they are still gold medals! So I believe that you can be both a deer manager and still shoot trophy deer within a balanced cull plan.

 

[pheasant sniper 1]

MS, are you saying that medal class deer shuold never feature in a cull plan? If so, how can you say you are managing deer across all age classes? You know the patch I shoot on and you know we have many medal class Sika. Because of the size of our cull plan you just cannot shoot one's with poor antlers/small bodies as there are too many good ones aswell. Not only that, I have shot sika that are well over ten years old and arthritic and they are still gold medals! So I believe that you can be both a deer manager and still shoot trophy deer within a balanced cull plan.

I think i have been trying to say just that...

 

[teyhan1]

I would suggest that any pro deer managers here are also trophy hunters. Maybe not for themselves but for clients. Well managed land produces trophies. Therefore if you are managing your land well you naturally become a trophy hunter.

 

[PointBlank]

I think if honesty comes into it then another option on the poll would be deer controller which is where I would probably fit in without given it a more romantic title.