Breeders vs stockers

to start out in the breeder market you're going to have a pile more than just aiming for shooters - breeder market is pretty hard to reach on a big level

Sounds like shooter bucks are easier/cheaper to raise, less paperwork so to speak from talking to others. The shooter buck guys I've talked to barely keep lineage even, I've been told more than once not to worry about lineage with shooters.

I just started myself and I chose to go into the shooter market. The startup cost is less and the market is larger. If you decide to do breeder market, from the research I've done, you'll want to track pedigrees, buy deer out of the "famous" or "currently popular" deer, so your talking more money for these deer compared to one that is going to do the same thing but not as well know. You'll want to get setup to take DNA samples of your fawns and have them certified, talking about 75 dollars a deer for the DNA testing and such. Lastly, you'll want to get into CWD and any other disease monitoring programs you can. Where as the shooter market, you'll just want to get good does that will produce bucks that will score 140-200+ that look like deer. My goal is to sell 2 year old bucks that are as close to 200 inches or larger. Hope all works out for you whichever way you go.

I have been in the business now only a year. I initially had the same thoughts as to which market to try and go with. Which one would allow me to see the most/fastest return on my investment. With only a year under my belt, it's my belief that in order to maximize your profits and to try to make the most out of your investment it would be wise to develop a plan that utilizes both markets. Not saying that you have to do a 50% 50% split, but I'm thinking that a 75% shooter market plan backed by a 25% breeder plan will keep you in the game and allow you to get aboard any popular trends that might arise and to be able to cash in on something right away instead of having to wait out 3 years. I say 3 years, because that's what it will take to breed your does, get those fawns to their first birthday. You wont be able to truly be able to judge what you have on his first rack. Don't get me wrong there are some deer that can just explode in that first years rack with 200 inch rack no problem. But more that likely it will take the year after to determine how nice of a rack that deer truly has. Then its, do you sell him now or wait till he turns 3 and adds another 50-100 inches and more profit. You will also run the risk of that deer getting ill or death because of a fight with another one of your deer or even a wild deer through the fence. So taking a gamble and waiting out for that third year could cost you money if you loose an animal. I guess there really isn't any true reward without risk.

On the breeder side you have to be willing to invest the extra time and money to promote what you have to offer. I have kept my eyes on the auctions and to advertise in the NADEFA magazine and the different publications cost several thousands. How ever, there are other outlets you just might have to get a little creative.

I want to wish everyone the best of luck with their new endeavors. I would also like to say thank you to the people that run DeerFarmer.com. This place has been a wealth of knowledge for myself and new farmers.