megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
That's not normal
but sure is NICE when it happens, and even better when you actually tag him! Incredible deer, congrats!
Disappointed
- Thread starter rsimms
- Start date
but sure is NICE when it happens, and even better when you actually tag him! Incredible deer, congrats!
@fulldraw
Well-Known Member
Thanks. He surprised us for sure. We were thinking 165ish but he was a lot heavier than we imagined. Scored 179 with about 6-8" broke off. My dad was the fortunate one to kill him.That's not normal
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
EXACTLY!
And because of this increase in mass, which as much less effect on "score" than tine length, the "measured" 5% increase in score from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 tends to understate how much more impressive only 5% more in "score" CAN be.
Also, fully mature bucks tend to gain circumference (mass) in their tines, and this tine mass is never part of the score, but sure adds to the overall "mass" of what you see!
One more thing:
Even though bucks that survive to 6 1/2 & 7 1/2 often loose some tine length, which can cause their B&C "score" to regress, they will often grow abnormal "sticker" points (sometimes with "scoring" these get subtracted from the score!), yet these abnormal sticker & kicker points may greatly add to the antler's overall uniqueness and "trophy" aspect.
Many "clean" mainframe 8 to 9-pointers at 4 1/2
can end up as "gnarly" 8 to 9-point mainframes at 6 1/2 (or older)
but may have 11 to 12 scoreable "points" over an inch long,
along with several more non-scoreable under an inch.
Never mind those "scoreable" ones actually subtract from the "score".
Crazy, imo.
Last edited:
BSK
Well-Known Member
This old guy's mainframe 9-points put him in the low 140s. But his triple brows on one side, double brows on the other, and kicker off the back of his beam drove his gross nontypical score up to 156.
Attachments
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Unique "trophy" buck!
What was his age?
What was his age?
BSK
Well-Known Member
Attachments
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2020
- Messages
- 2,683
Was this a Tennessee buck
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
THAT my friend is much of why I prefer to hold out for fully mature bucks!
"Mass" may be the most consistent antler trait that comes with age?
BSK
Well-Known Member
I would agree with that.
And heavy mass is damn impressive as it comes through the woods towards you!
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
Holding a set of antlers with mass is a lot more satisfying than a thin set that scores high because it has a lot of length. One of my favorite sheds from last year has over a 6" base and heavy all the way through even up the tines. The best part is I found him on trail cam this summer and even though he's only about 13" wide he'll score pretty darn good and his opposite side is much larger
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
When you see a group of deer 700 yards in the distance, and with your naked eye note one of them has antlers, it will be because that one has "mass". Then you put up your binoculars and note all in the group are antlered bucks, but the only one that really stands out is the one with the "mass".
THAT is The ONE!
Never mind, other bucks in the group may considerably out-score that massive antlered one.
All it takes is the visual, to understand that mass usually trumps B&C "score".
"The One" is seldom younger than 5 1/2 or older.
To me, the better "trophy" buck is defined by a
balance of older age, mass, and uniqueness (like abnormal tines, side-kickers, etc.).
"Score" becomes last on my list of antler traits.
Last edited:
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
I do love high scoring deer but the more big deer antlers I hold the more I realize that some antlers may not score as high but overall there is a lot more bone on them
tree_ghost
Well-Known Member
I'd love to see a water displacement system or something implemented for this very reason!
BSK
Well-Known Member
If you wanted to see which deer had grown the most antler material, a water displacement system would be the best method.
But a good scoring system needs to output a number that creates a visual image. Currently, the best system for doing that is Gross B&C score.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
This may be, but for me, "score" is only a single piece of the "trophy" puzzle.
I've given a pass many times to bucks that scored 20-plus B&C points higher than the buck I decided was a better trophy.
Most of the "score" is coming from the number of tines & their length.
This downplays "mass".
In fact, no score credit whatsoever is given for the circumference of the tines,
which can really be "huge" on an older buck.
Beam length & overall mass often mean more to me than the score.
To have the ultimate trophy antlers, it remains imperitive to "let walk" those highest scoring 2 1/2 & 3 1/2-yr-old bucks?
This may typically mean you never raise your weapon on a 140-plus class 3 1/2, but decide to kill a 120-class 5 1/2 or older buck. Often, that 120-class older buck's antlers will displace more water than a 140-class younger buck (lacking mass).
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
That said, a "trophy" is in the eyes of the beholder
How we define our "trophies" will change based on our experiences and circumstances.
How we define our "trophies" will change based on our experiences and circumstances.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2020
- Messages
- 3,855
It's no different in people.
I was one of the tallest kids on the football team in 8th-9th grade. Guess I peaked early.
Then by high school, guys shot up around me and I went from being able to see over the OL, to hoping the coach would call rollouts.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Exactly. I graduated High School at 5' 5" and 135 lbs. In my early 20s, I started to grow. Ended up 5' 11 1/2" and 165. I went from being the smallest kid in my class every year from Kindergarten through senior year of High School to the tallest person in my family.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Same here. I graduated high school at 5'10" and 160 lbs. It wasn't until sophomore year in college when I "filled out" to 6'0" and 190 lbs. I always wished I had that extra meat on me to excel in high school sports. I also know of a guy in middle school that was bigger than anyone and everyone was scared of him. He never grew another inch and was one of the smallest guys by high school graduation. Helps explain antlers to an extent.
