A mainframe 8 once it reaches maturity (4.5) will likely stay a mainframe 8 until it starts to decline. Now we're talking 'mainframe'... they will often add kickers, stickers, droptines, etc the older they get.

A young mainframe 8 (1.5 or 2.5 yrs old, but esp 1.5) has the potential to become a mainframe 10 with a little more age.

Right on the money......could not have said it better....

I do not think there are any set rules when it comes to growing antlers,

There is some good evidence that nutrition plays a significant role in a buck's expressed basic frame. In essence, a buck that has the genetic capability of being a basic-frame 10 or 12 can remain a basic-frame 8, even at maturity, if nutrition is not optimal.

I agree there are absolutely no definite rules, you will always have exceptions, but I have discovered that the mainframe rarely changes much once they reach maturity.

BSK,

Would this be a case that supplement feeding would be a good thing?
Still trying to learn....

A mainframe 8 once it reaches maturity (4.5) will likely stay a mainframe 8 until it starts to decline. Now we're talking 'mainframe'... they will often add kickers, stickers, droptines, etc the older they get.

A young mainframe 8 (1.5 or 2.5 yrs old, but esp 1.5) has the potential to become a mainframe 10 with a little more age.

BSK,

Another question: You said a high protein diet? Of what? Exactly what I don't understand...High Protein pellets is what I have been putting in my feeders for the last 5 years. It seems to be working...

I still have some sharp sticks.

The buck was raised on an all-you-can-eat corn diet. At 7 1/2 he was still growing about the best rack he ever had--a 110-class basic-frame 8. Then he was . . . . . . switched to a high-protein diet. At 8 1/2 he grew a monstrosity of a rack (170+ basic 12-point plus kickers if I remember correctly).

....and sometimes, 8 is enough!

....and sometimes, 8 is enough!

....and sometimes, 8 is enough!

And this is just one more strong bit of "antedotal" evidence for why I've been saying feeding corn can be COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE in addition to all the other problems associated with feeders in Tennessee.

When corn is being fed, deer may eat a lot of the low-protein corn INSTEAD of the higher-protein forbes and natural browse, resulting in smaller antlers, not larger antlers.

Either or, Genetics is the KEY!

Genetics only provides the blueprint and potential. Nutrition allows for actual expression (growth) of potential. If nutrition isn't adequate, a buck cannot express much of his potential.

You can feed a buck anything you want. No matter what you feed them, you still have genetics and age to consider.

And if age isnt attained, again he cant reach his potential without adequate age. It takes all 3 for a buck to be all he can be, in our eyes anyway!

And there is not one single person on this earth who can identify a cull buck.

And there is not one single person on this earth who can identify a cull buck.

Oh yeah you can, any fully mature buck with a small rack is a cull buck, IMO anyway! This is the only cull that exists IMO!

Wouldn't a fully mature buck be desired regardless of the rack? In other words, are you not gonna kill a fully mature buck with a nice rack?

Now most of you can talk about maturity all you want. But except for Wes and BSK most of you are talking about antlers.

So you want to kill a buck becuase he has small antlers?

When the antlers are a sole consideration, you are selecting for one trait. That does not mean a cull.

If you walk into a pro football locker room, and cut every defensive, 300-pound lineman with a johnson shorter than 4" that is same as selecting by antler size.

That is only one criteria. That is why most hunters are terrible biologists or managers. If your goal is antlers (TDM) that is one thing. If your goal is a healthy deer herd, that is something else.

Now most of you can talk about maturity all you want. But except for Wes and BSK most of you are talking about antlers. You are associating antlers and age and nutrition. Now take take antlers out of the equation and see where this thread goes.

So you want to kill a buck becuase he has small antlers? Then lets cut the all-pro lineman with the small danglie. It's obvious he can't play football.

As I said somewhere else here, the term cull buck is used when folks shoot a deer which they thought was bigger then it was in reality or they shoot one which is below the standards for whereever they are hunting. IMO there is no such thing as a "cull" buck. They are either mature or not, and that is all that matters.

("culled") (to control herd density).

"cull" deer--an undesirable deer removed to control herd density.

Sharp stick for sale.

When the antlers are a sole consideration, you are selecting for one trait. That does not mean a cull.

If you walk into a pro football locker room, and cut every defensive, 300-pound lineman with a johnson shorter than 4" that is same as selecting by antler size.

That is only one criteria. That is why most hunters are terrible biologists or managers. If your goal is antlers (TDM) that is one thing. If your goal is a healthy deer herd, that is something else.

Now most of you can talk about maturity all you want. But except for Wes and BSK most of you are talking about antlers. You are associating antlers and age and nutrition. Now take take antlers out of the equation and see where this thread goes.

Right back it where it started 20 plus years ago.

So you want to kill a buck becuase he has small antlers? Then lets cut the all-pro lineman with the small danglie. It's obvious he can't play football.

Sharp stick for sale.

The number one criteria in whitetail management has always been...and erroneously been...antlers. Now tell me you don't hunt for horns. Tell me a six year old buck that is 70 inches is as valubale to you as trophy as 3.5 year old 150-inch buck. Tell me if both stood in front of you, you'd shoot the older buck.

I know I sure wouldn't. But Wes or BSK might. It has nothing to do with judging age. It is a matter of priorities. Antlers, in most managment programs, has always been antlers.

Actually I disagree Wes and BSK would both shoot the 150 class buck. I will say that I have studied bodies and age a lot more in the last three years. I would shoot a 6.5 yo 100 inch deer over a 3.5 yo 120 inch deer. Like Winchester alluded to a 6.5 yo buck is one bad animal.

Some of us know a lot more than we let on.

BW, you said that a mainframe 8pt is a typical deer and a mainframe 10pt is a non-typical. Did I understand that correctly? If so, how did you obtain this information? I'm not denying it, I've just never heard that.

tnbustr-I believe I answered your question in a PM.

I didn't get one, but ghosthunter was the one askin the question. I just thought it was kind of interesting...

...its all about the antlers, and a fully mature buck with small antlers will not be welcomed anywhere...

a fully mature buck with small antlers will not be welcomed anywhere, like the same buck with a 160 inch rack would be.

Is a main frame 8pt always a main frame 8pt or can they turn into a main frame 10pt with age?

Where is page 6? What is your question? Of course I'll answer it but I have no idea what you are talking about.

Guys I'll catch you tomorrow. I'm beat. I'm going to bed.

Depending on your settings. He may have apage six but it may be page four for you.