Question on Shooter Buck prices

If you can sell them-Load Them!



Most of us dont even have offers.

If everyone starts letting their stuff go at the low prices then who is winning then? I feel like if you are able to hold out & not sell you will be the winner in the long run & help the industry on getting the prices back where they belong. If the people that hunt the bucks they have the bucks $$$$$$$$$$$$. NOT TRYING TO START A WAR JUST ONE'S THOUGHT.

You are right TallTines, but sometimes you HAVE to move some. Our problem is there are lots of farms selling out, and selling out very cheap. The good thing is, they wont be there next year.......

Thats a good question, Remember it costs about $300 to $350 a year in feed per deer. Also theres the chance the deer could die by next year, I hope not but S=== happens!

I don't want to get shot but consider that if we all hold the deer then the inventory will be higher next year. As long as inventory is higher than demand the price will be low. With out substantial growth in the hunting market we are over supplied! I think reed is right that many farms are closing which in the long run will be good for prices. It may take a few years for the hunting market to come back, a lot of wealth has been lost in the last year, but it will come back.

Deerchaser well said.

Mark,



I would figure it this way. From the information you have given about the prices offered to you and the sizes and number you have to sell, I am guessing you will average gross around $2000/head. Going off of what Neeby said about feed price per year, if these 6 average 3 years old, you have about $1000 of feed/vet in them. That is an average net of $1000 per animal.



I talk to multiple deer farmers almost daily. There are MANY who are considering keeping trophy bucks over until next year, either because they won't accept the prices they are being offered or they aren't getting any offers. The supply of trophy bucks WILL be greater next season than it is this season. It will only go down when the number of buck fawns born decreases and/or the number of trophy bucks being shot drastically increases from this years level. The chances of the selling price of trophy bucks going up next year is very slim. If you keep them, and if they survive, and if the price you are offered remains the same (and not lower),you now only net around $700-$800 (discounting for feed cost and adding a little for increased antler inches).



Personally, I would take the money while it is being offered. You probably have more trophy bucks coming up and will have more babies this spring. Every market makes swings and this one will eventually swing back. It's never a bad thing to make a profit, even if it's not as much as you had hoped.

Good advice John Wells! None of us is a psychic nor do we have a crystal ball we can look in , to determine the future. The deer market will take time to correct itself, but you make good points about the elk market and over supply, I hope that doesnt happen to us, although there sure seems to be alot of deer being bred out there. Makes you wonder Hmmmm

Sorry !! The part about the elk market was made by Jack on the hunting preserve thread started by Reed. Both threads are similar.

Mark,



Did you get your deer sold or did you decide to hold on to them? Would you mind to give the thought process you went through for whichever choice you made. I always like to hear the reasons for ones actions, and try to learn from them.



Thanks,