Growing Mature Bucks

[tanasirivertea]

I'm fortunate to hunt a nice chunk of private ground that's not heavily pressured. Deer behave pretty normal compared to a TN WMA herd. They also have plenty to eat despite poor soil quality. In now my 3rd season on this piece, there's only been 3 bucks taken (all 2yr old 8 pointers). But there's certainly some mature bucks that live there just not huge racks. Of all the deer I've got on cam, none would break 130, maybe not 120. So what would you say is typical for TN deer, rack wise, once they reach 4? I killed a hefty buck that TWRA said was just 3yr and the rack barely broke 100 green scored. I just assumed it was an old buck with regressing antlers. So what's your thoughts? Should TN bucks average 110 to 120 at 4 year old? Or should we be seeing a P&Y buck annually if we're getting a handful of mature bucks.

 

[Boone25/06]

Following this I have similar questions.

 

[megalomaniac]

Average 4.5yo will go 125.

 

[Carycp9087]

What part of the state are you in? I keep letting 3 year olds walk that are probably 120 to 130 inches. But I rarely see a 4+ year old.

 

[Ski]

If you're anywhere near where I'm at in Coffee Co, a 120" buck is huge regardless of age. A typical mature buck around here weighs 150lbs or less on the hoof. The racks look big until you walk up and see a buck the size of a dog. It is what it is. Just an hour north of here and you find the big woodland variety like KY has. TN is a diverse state when it comes to the deer herd.

 

[SEC]

Long season. Most of the best two year olds can't survive it. At least that seems to be what happens here. What your left with is a 3 year old here and there that's not really what your looking for.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Agree with Mega and I've read where BSK has said the same....the average mature buck in Tennessee will score 125"....but that's certainly not to say there are no 130"-140" deer...they are killed every year all over the state...with some areas of the state being better than others.

Not casting stones...just asking...is there any way you can protect the 2½ year old 8pts mentioned?...while you can't stockpile bucks....if the goal is killing mature or bigger deer then letting those bucks walk will increase your odds.

 

[fairchaser]

I agree the average 4.5 year old buck is 125 which means there are some above and below that mark. A small property may only have 3-4 mature bucks so you can do the math. The trick is getting that 3.5 year old 130 inch buck to maturity without being shot.

 

[Boll Weevil]

We manage about 800ac in ag country and target 5.5+ yr olds regardless of headgear. If you're only trying to get them to 3 or 4, they aren't likely reaching their antler potential.

 

[deerhunter10]

Some properties aren't going to produce big racks. Bsk can probably explain it, I can't but some just don't some areas do. By a good chunk how many acres? Soil does play a factor in how big they are.

 

[Boll Weevil]

One more recommendation is maybe think "reaching potential" vs 120, 130, or 140 inches of bone. As others have stated many, many other factors contribute to antler development and top-end score. Some places simply have more / less potential than others. Local genetics, soil, abundance of quality food, herd dynamics, social pressure, and on and on.

 

[BSK]

Just remember that any "average" score given for an age-class is just that - an average. Most buck age-classes produce a huge range of scores even in one given location. Collect enough data from one location and you'll find that each age-class of buck above yearlings will display a range of scores that exceeds 100 inches. That means that although the average for 2 1/2 year-old bucks in western Middle TN is 82.5 inches, you'll eventually find 2 1/2s in the area that range from 20 to 130. So when you hear accurate data like "mature bucks in TN average around 125" realize that means a large percentage are +/- 10 inches of 125, but there will still be those statistical outliers in the 50s and those 160+.

That said, here are the averages for western Middle TN:

1 1/2: 40
2 1/2: 82.5
3 1/2: 105
4 1/2: 120
5 1/2+: 125

And by the way, these numbers are almost identical to the numbers generated from the King Ranch in TX.

 

[tanasirivertea]

What part of the state are you in? I keep letting 3 year olds walk that are probably 120 to 130 inches. But I rarely see a 4+ year old.

Hickman Co and Maury Co. Hickman biggest claim to fame currently is as a great source for an abundance of chert (for those that don't know, chert is a specific type of dirt that is God's gift to concrete industry) but chert is awful for holding moisture, minerals etc. And that private land is lots of rocky, rough chert.

 

[tanasirivertea]

Agree with Mega and I've read where BSK has said the same....the average mature buck in Tennessee will score 125"....but that's certainly not to say there are no 130"-140" deer...they are killed every year all over the state...with some areas of the state being better than others.

Not casting stones...just asking...is there any way you can protect the 2½ year old 8pts mentioned?...while you can't stockpile bucks....if the goal is killing mature or bigger deer then letting those bucks walk will increase your odds.

I totally agree. There's still plenty of bucks that make it though. Relatively low pressure from those hunting there. In late summer, I identified one of the older bucks in a bachelor group of 7. Had same buck on cam a couple weeks back in daytime. Definitely 4 or 5 yr old, agreed upon by several more experienced deer hunters, but maybe wouldn't beat 120. But certainly looks tremendous compared to the 8 I got. I think getting some more experienced thinkers helps me better gauge what I want to set goals for. I think making a P&Y book annually would so difficult if only hunting certain areas for limited times

 

[tanasirivertea]

Some properties aren't going to produce big racks. Bsk can probably explain it, I can't but some just don't some areas do. By a good chunk how many acres? Soil does play a factor in how big they are.

its 1000 acres. Its a lease on some pine plantation. There's several of us involved but we're all too busy with work or family. Fun to hunt overall but just wondering what's an appropriate way to judge "trophy" in a sense relative to the area and its herd

 

[MickThompson]

Something to consider. If you're shooting "nice" 2 year olds they'll never be big 4 year olds. High grading won't wreck your genetics but they'll never be any bigger than the day you shoot them

 

[tanasirivertea]

Something to consider. If you're shooting "nice" 2 year olds they'll never be big 4 year olds. High grading won't wreck your genetics but they'll never be any bigger than the day you shoot them

I totally agree. Despite the 3 two year olds, there's plenty of bucks walking and several other guys don't share their cam data. But as far as I know, there's 3 four years old bucks with wildly different headgear yet none that are huge or even borderline in the overall scale of things like B&C or P&Y. I like the opinion that all are sharing. Insightful

 

[tanasirivertea]

Just remember that any "average" score given for an age-class is just that - an average. Most buck age-classes produce a huge range of scores even in one given location. Collect enough data from one location and you'll find that each age-class of buck above yearlings will display a range of scores that exceeds 100 inches. That means that although the average for 2 1/2 year-old bucks in western Middle TN is 82.5 inches, you'll eventually find 2 1/2s in the area that range from 20 to 130. So when you hear accurate data like "mature bucks in TN average around 125" realize that means a large percentage are +/- 10 inches of 125, but there will still be those statistical outliers in the 50s and those 160+.

That said, here are the averages for western Middle TN:

1 1/2: 40
2 1/2: 82.5
3 1/2: 105
4 1/2: 120
5 1/2+: 125

And by the way, these numbers are almost identical to the numbers generated from the King Ranch in TX.

Thanks for sharing this. Confirms my suspicions. Until 4 seasons ago, I didn't care what I shot so long as it wasn't a spike or forky. still only managed to kill some doe here and there. But thanks to re-engaging with archery and getting into trail cam due to getting one as a gift. Once I saw what was really out in my neck of the woods I suddenly became more interested in learning how to hunt them. But like the bucks I've killed or friends or lease members, there's always some ground shrinkage it seems to all parties relative to the cam footage. at end of day, learning all this makes it more fun to know that just getting the biggest one you can get in the herd/area you got is just its own trophy. I like that. I don't have time to hunt at home much less go out of state. Some parts of Africa probably have better buffalo or lions than others but its still a lion

 

[MickThompson]

I totally agree. Despite the 3 two year olds, there's plenty of bucks walking and several other guys don't share their cam data. But as far as I know, there's 3 four years old bucks with wildly different headgear yet none that are huge or even borderline in the overall scale of things like B&C or P&Y. I like the opinion that all are sharing. Insightful

BC and PY are 2 very different standards on the same ruler. A Booner (170+) is incredibly rare in TN even under intensive trophy management and not a realistic goal.

 

[tellico4x4]

From 2008-2021, this is what our average western middle Tn bucks look like:

2-1/2 yr old: ( mostly youth bucks)
22 bucks (14%)
137#
7 points
12.61" inside
15.67" main beam
3.30" base

3-1/2 yr old:
53 bucks (34%)
158#
8 points
14.74" inside
17.98" main beam
4.00" base

4-1/2+ yr old:
81 bucks (52%)
177#
9 points
16.08" inside
20.11" main beam
4.62" base

For the past 3 years our minimum criteria shall include 2 out of 4, of the following:
16" inside
19.5" main beam
175#
4.5" base

I bet we haven't scored 10-12 bucks over all years. The score just doesn't mean that much to us. We strive to kill mature bucks (4-1/2+) for our area that everyone is happy to shoot. Our best buck was killed 3 years ago and scored 166" with his right G2 broken off, left was 12" long.

We are fortunate that our 2 neighbors are basically on same page as we are, and between the 3 of us, we manage 12,000 contiguous acres.

It really boils down to what your group is satisfied in killing , and willing to put forth the efforts to do so.