Take or leave the master buck.

[EssexBigMac]

Have some land which has the rutting stand nearby as can hear the master buck calling his harem of loyal does. They crossed through mine recently and I let him go with the belief in the doe season I’ll have more chance on numbers with the does and his competition.
Curious what others would do? shoot or hold.
I want to manage this land rather than eradicate if this helps sway a decision.

 

[75]

No guarantee the hinds will still be there in 3 weeks. Personally I'd shoot any younger prickets around the edges rather than a stinking old buck at this time of year but I'd equally have no qualms about shooting the bigger one if I had an outlet for the carcass. It'll have no impact on overall population in the area and the neighbours will probably drop it without a second thought!

 

[Tim.243]

Have some land which has the rutting stand nearby as can hear the master buck calling his harem of loyal does. They crossed through mine recently and I let him go with the belief in the doe season I’ll have more chance on numbers with the does and his competition.
Curious what others would do? shoot or hold.
I want to manage this land rather than eradicate if this helps sway a decision.

My question is will you deal with it on your own?

 

[muddy42]

I presume this is fallow deer?

Strictly the decision should be based on age, shooting an old male is OK that has passed on his genes and is now going back. Morally, I also only think you can justify this is you will shoot the does as well, who are much more cautious and harder to shoot in the short days. But fallow cover huge distances and if you leave it, someone else will no doubt slot it. Whatever you do, you won't eradicate fallow deer in the South.

 

[fallow me]

Ive got several master bucks on my permission, will leave them till after the rut, and only take them out when i can shift them, not everyone wants an animal that size, also the things roam around great distances and unless your permission covers 20,000 acres someone else will shoot him, to be honest, unless it has an exceptional head, i wouldn't bother with him,

 

[EssexBigMac]

My question is will you deal with it on your own?

I’ll just drop you a line. I’m sure you’ll always be close by with your trolley and winch

 

[Tim.243]

I’ll just drop you a line. I’m sure you’ll always be close by with your trolley and winch

I work on if you shoot it you deal with it, any way you never answered my question!
1Yes on my own.
2 No I wimped out lol

 

[75]

Sorry - meant does not hinds. Was thinking of fallow but I’m so used to dealing with reds at the minute. I’ll take myself out and give myself 40 lashes…

 

[Taff]

Depends if he is smelly , no one wants a stinking buck, otherwise shoot what you see especially with fallow.
Question is what’s a master buck.

 

[EssexBigMac]

I work on if you shoot it you deal with it, any way you never answered my question!
1Yes on my own.
2 No I wimped out lol

Always deal with them on my own. Nothing a bear hug, a pick up truck , and a good winch can’t do

 

[Tim.243]

Depends if he is smelly , no one wants a stinking buck, otherwise shoot what you see especially with fallow.
Question is what’s a master buck.

The question is.......how many managed to cover some does.
Answer we don't know.

Always deal with them on my own. Nothing a bear hug, a pick up truck , and a good winch can’t do

Waiting for the video!!

 

[paulbshooting]

Always leave the master bucks. They appear for the rut and then disappear. They are the prime breeding stock.

 

[Taff]

Jez I remember keepers in the new forest loading them into astra vans, a few had a land rover but not all, it’s why most deer were shot next to gravel roads in them days, , no fancy winches ,four wheels etc, we carried two fallow bucks on a scaffold pole over a mile, like two men from the dark continent, problem was my mate was over 6 ft and they kept sliding down hill to me, probably would have been easier in the light.

 

[Taff]

Always leave the master bucks. They appear for the rut and then disappear. They are the prime breeding stock.

And your evidence is ?

 

[paulbshooting]

And your evidence is ?

That's what happens on the ground I stalk every rut. Alongside that we take prickets, poor sorels and plenty of does. The overall quality has improved.

 

[Tim.243]

That's what happens on the ground I stalk every rut. Alongside that we take prickets, poor sorels and plenty of does. The overall quality has improved.

The game dealer will pay the price per kg if it had a good head or wonky one as you cut it off!
Wonky Head

One more Wonky Head

Not so Wonky all the same on the scales

 

[EssexBigMac]

Jez I remember keepers in the new forest loading them into astra vans, a few had a land rover but not all, it’s why most deer were shot next to gravel roads in them days, , no fancy winches ,four wheels etc, we carried two fallow bucks on a scaffold pole over a mile, like two men from the dark continent, problem was my mate was over 6 ft and they kept sliding down hill to me, probably would have been easier in the light.

I think I found your old picture, real men back in the day (you have to love AI )