Seeking Advice. . .

If you could please give your opinion on this buck it would be greatly appreciated. I am wondering if you personally would keep this buck to breed or would you sell it as a shooter buck, based on photo only.



Thanks

Steve Reno

Personally, I would shoot him and find something better to breed with.

thanks for your honest opinion, thats what im looking for

Just out of curiosity why would you not breed with him?

because the dame side is n/a

I think it depends on what else you have Steve. If your a very small operation and he's your biggest or highest scoring buck, then I would go ahead and breed him to all your does. Always breed your best when starting out. If you have others that are at least over 200" then I think you need to just simply pick out your favorite. My personal opinion is, if you are live breeding all your does, always try to breed with bucks that will score over 200" in today's market (unless its a high 190"s typical or yearling that scores near 200"). The reason I say this is because I personally have found that its easier to noticed (by buyers) if your breeders are over 200" in these current times. Just my opinion. I realize there are farmers who may not be using 200" breeders and that is ok. No offense to you in any way.

From the picture you have it appears he is a 220-250" buck. Not bad at all if you choose to breed him, I don't see why he can't give you 200" + three year olds.

The best part of deer farming is that its your adventure. You can breed with what you want, sure its fun to get opinions from others, but always stick to your gut instincts. Just be careful not to sell your buck for a shooter, then regret it a few days later when he's gone. Explore your options for breeders and go with what you like. I would say If you think you want something else to use as a breeder, sell him and take the money and buy a buck you like better.

thanks antlershed for your opinion it gives me a lot to think about, and by the way your score is right on the money.

antlershed-



i am a small breeding operation and i have always been told to your does are more important than a buck is. that is why i am questioning on what to do with him. is there any truth to this?!

Shoot him and use the money to invest in a good straw of semen

Your does are very important. Always pick strong reliable lines that produce huge 2 year olds. Talk to other farmers, visit them and see what their does are doing. There are does out there that will make 200-250" 2 year olds, and you can get them for a couple hundred dollars. Good does are very affordable now a days.

Without me knowing what your does are doing for you now, I would say if they are not giving you 150" + two year olds, and 200"+ three year olds (when bred to 200" and bigger breeder bucks), then it is going to be tough to even pay to feed them. I have "started over" twice. And probably will again someday. There is a lot to be learned from raising your does, and if they aren't producing, they need "plucked" from the herd promptly. I don't even try to sell my non producers to someone else. If they don't produce what I want, they surely won't produce for someone else and (as harsh as it sounds) they usually get shot right in their pen for meat. I had to do it a couple times last fall unfortunately.

I have made some foolish (or uneducated) purchases before, we all do, but learning from your mistakes is all you can do.

It works both ways. In the past I have even bought does for $100-$300 on W.E that have made some pretty Big Shooters for me.