Thread: Stags and Bucks 2025

Teaching my son the tricks...private land, night time, night vision, thermal spotter, cut the antlers off and sold them. Under powered .223.
Meat is off to charity.
So there's a dilemma for the ethics committee.

He was croaking.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

nice.thats not a cull stag though just young one with what looks to be quite good potential.good effort with that cannon!

I reckon your wrong, any red with decent antler genetics should have at least 10 well developed tines preferably 12. Sometimes the tops may not have developed totally.

If son is croaking I suggest he try some throat lozenges or some whiskey with honey perhaps.

Originally Posted by thatguy

3 roars in a row of hunting this public land area, coming up empty.
This guy was holding hinds, and no good head despite his age, so right one to take I guess.
My first roaring stag too. @Micky Duck - was on big slip.

Nice one mate, you should be pretty happy with that

Originally Posted by Puddleduk

I reckon your wrong, any red with decent antler genetics should have at least 10 well developed tines preferably 12. Sometimes the tops may not have developed totally.

How do you think they get to be 10 or 12 points, by growing older and aging. Classic case of a young animal, probably first year with actual antlers, thin antlers small body and very high pedicle and coronets.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

How do you think they get to be 10 or 12 points, by growing older and aging. Classic case of a young animal, probably first year with actual antlers, thin antlers small body and very high pedicle and coronets.

May not be aware they fall off each year

Shooting what we think are culls will never "improve the gene pool". It's way too diluted for that. Reducing the numbers by shooting hinds and leaving the stags to compete for the girls (natural selection) will have the greatest effect.

Ponder this next time you think your going to improve the gene pool. How many stags were/ have EVER been imported into New Zealand??? Discounting escapee genetics,what's out there shares a lot of same DNA regardless of what we do. Feed n age.

"Improving the gene pool" is just my excuse for not being able to find anything better.

Some nice heads on display here. Not trying to take anyone's pride away from their kill but some people need to learn how to age the animals they're hunting. Some very young animals being 'culled' in these threads lately. We've all been there and I'm no exception.

Here's a link to an aging guide

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/n...-ageing-guide/

Originally Posted by mawzer308

How do you think they get to be 10 or 12 points, by growing older and aging. Classic case of a young animal, probably first year with actual antlers, thin antlers small body and very high pedicle and coronets.

It's a 2year old with 8 poor points, it will never grow to be a trophy. I have seen quite a few 2 to 3 year old stags with 12 - 16 points on DOC land and let them walk. There are some very good genetics out there, probably better than there ever was.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Teaching my son the tricks...private land, night time, night vision, thermal spotter, cut the antlers off and sold them. Under powered .223.
Meat is off to charity.
So there's a dilemma for the ethics committee.

He was croaking.

Attachment 271818

Dog is double checking it's dead. Reckon it prefers 22CM over 223 as less tracking work needed

Originally Posted by TimC

Some nice heads on display here. Not trying to take anyone's pride away from their kill but some people need to learn how to age the animals they're hunting. Some very young animals being 'culled' in these threads lately. We've all been there and I'm no exception.

Here's a link to an aging guide

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/n...-ageing-guide/

Good idea, save the older ones for 1080 and WARO

Originally Posted by Puddleduk

I reckon your wrong, any red with decent antler genetics should have at least 10 well developed tines preferably 12. Sometimes the tops may not have developed totally.

Yes he’s a 2 year old by the looks of it and also looks a very even 8,chances are he would have grown into an even 12 in a few years.

Originally Posted by Yesmate

Yes he’s a 2 year old by the looks of it and also looks a very even 8,chances are he would have grown into an even 12 in a few years.

Who really gives a fuck and you wonder why people stop posting on here go start another thread why ruin this one