Risk/threat to other bucks?

[Enigma41a]

Hi there.. any help please?
I know these pictures aren't the best (taken at distance as darkness fell) but can I have opinions/advice on whether this pricket/young buck is a threat to Fallow bucks with the rut imminent ... and with that antler please? Grateful thanks in advance

 

[deerstalker.308]

Just a young head, it won’t fight properly at that age, no biggy

 

[Enigma41a]

deerstalker.308 - thank you so much. Someone wants to shoot him today or tomorrow on those grounds. I'm disputing but began second-guessing myself. An objective opinion/point of view was needed. Also - been told his antlers will ALWAYS grow like that year on year. I say not but haven't had chance to research. Would you agree with that?

 

[Fursty Ferret]

He won't rut but still wants culling. Too much selective shooting going on as it is

 

[deerstalker.308]

He won't rut but still wants culling. Too much selective shooting going on as it is

This is also very true, absolutely no reason not to shoot him

 

[Tim.243]

This is also very true, absolutely no reason not to shoot him

Shoot it...

 

[shotguntom]

Doesnt look in the best on condition either from what i can see in the photos. Looks a bit skinny for what you would expect at this time of year.

 

[Enigma41a]

This is also very true, absolutely no reason not to shoot him

Our small male population was targeted by poachers Spring and Summer of '23 so some careful consideration and selection is required. If he is no threat to far more mature bucks during this upcoming rut (which was my original query) he can be spared.. can't he? Isn't 'selective shooting' relative to the size and balance of your local wild population? Just trying to learn..

 

[ion]

I wouldn't rate his body condition as good based on the photos.
If poachers have reduced numbers you would expect him to have good condition based on less competition.
Ordinarily spikes longer than the ears are a good sign. Do you think he lost the other one or is that the way it grew. They are notorious for damaging one side in my experience

 

[Enigma41a]

I wouldn't rate his body condition as good based on the photos.
If poachers have reduced numbers you would expect him to have good condition based on less competition.
Ordinarily spikes longer than the ears are a good sign. Do you think he lost the other one or is that the way it grew. They are notorious for damaging one side in my experience

Hi Ion .. it has grown that way Poaching hammered the males. There is now an imbalance in the male to female ratio When he was in front of me.. he appeared in as good condition as the one or two other males near him His overall look didn't give any immediate cause for concern

 

[ion]

We have a lot of poor heads in Ireland, supposedly due to a very narrow genetic base. Anything over the ears gets a bit of thought, considering that the length of one thumb joint is the average for yearlings.
However in the current climate of "overpopulation " I probably can't allow myself the luxury of leaving them.
Good luck , whatever choice you make.

 

[Enigma41a]

We have a lot of poor heads in Ireland, supposedly due to a very narrow genetic base. Anything over the ears gets a bit of thought, considering that the length of one thumb joint is the average for yearlings.
However in the current climate of "overpopulation " I probably can't allow myself the luxury of leaving them.
Good luck , whatever choice you make.

Thanks Ion

 

[Overlay]

No worries about the antler, as previously said he wouldn't pose any threat at that age, add it on your cull list and get in your larder, they all count

 

[deerstalker.308]

Worth noting that fallow are rarely hefted to a single site and move around a large landscape so however you feel your local population may be affected by your poachers, on a landscape scale the fallow need culling at every opportunity when in season. If I was out and saw him he would be shot on principal but your ground, your knowledge, your rules, entirely your call.

 

[Heym SR20]

We have a lot of poor heads in Ireland, supposedly due to a very narrow genetic base. Anything over the ears gets a bit of thought, considering that the length of one thumb joint is the average for yearlings.
However in the current climate of "overpopulation " I probably can't allow myself the luxury of leaving them.
Good luck , whatever choice you make.

I don’t really understand why reducing deer numbers due to overpopulation as defined somebody somewhere sitting at a desk, means that we have to throw all the basics of selecting good culls and leaving the quality to breed.

If we just shoot everything indiscriminately then we just are left with poor quality animals.

 

[Firefly]

Could possible have a testicular issue but a poor looking deer anyway, best removed.

 

[shakey jake]

How many young males do you need?
Id shoot it, its the big boys that count and he doesnt look like he will grow big

 

[Donkey Basher]

Our small male population was targeted by poachers Spring and Summer of '23 so some careful consideration and selection is required. If he is no threat to far more mature bucks during this upcoming rut (which was my original query) he can be spared.. can't he? Isn't 'selective shooting' relative to the size and balance of your local wild population? Just trying to learn..

He looks like a very poor buck so just shoot him now & let the older good bucks do the business. No point keeping poor bucks.

 

[Tim.243]

I don’t really understand why reducing deer numbers due to overpopulation as defined somebody somewhere sitting at a desk, means that we have to throw all the basics of selecting good culls and leaving the quality to breed.

If we just shoot everything indiscriminately then we just are left with poor quality animals.

When I went to Norwich to my sons wedding we took the back roads, I said to my niece (she likes to eat muntjac) lets count the dead deer on the side of the road! 7 fallow 2 muntjac so there is no need to fret about indiscriminately shooting deer to affect the balance of nature as they do it themselves.
I went to put a high seat on a new bit of ground lunch time and went through one of the Fallow corridors on my way.
Big fallow doe dead on the road side last time a fallow Buck and a muntjac.

 

[Jimbob39]

How about this lad?