1.5 deer to 2.5

[wobblegobble]

good jump from 1.5 to 2.5

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[plinker22]

That is fantastic growth. Wow!

 

[Realtree]

Big jump!

 

[catman529]

Dang

 

[stryker]

Dang he jumped up like Michael Jordan. Lol. Awesome difference!!!!

 

[MUP]

Heck yea!

 

[BSK]

On average, bucks double their gross score from yearling to 2 1/2. It's the largest antler grow increase they normally see during their lifespan.

 

[plinker22]

On average, bucks double their gross score from yearling to 2 1/2. It's the largest antler grow increase they normally see during their lifespan.

I did not know that. I assumed the biggest gross score change was from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2.

 

[BSK]

Gross score increase--on average--declines both in inches and in percentage, with each year older.

These are real-world AVERAGE numbers:

Yearling to 2 1/2--average increase of 42.5 inches (100% increase)
2 1/2 to 3 1/2--average increase of 20 inches (25% increase)
3 1/2 to 4 1/2--15 inch increase (15% increase)
4 1/2 to 5 1/2--5 inch increase (5% increase)

Now these are just the averages. INDIVIDUAL bucks can experience HUGE increases at any age, and I've seen some truly crazy examples.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Awesome

 

[plinker22]

Gross score increase--on average--declines both in inches and in percentage, with each year older.

These are real-world AVERAGE numbers:

Yearling to 2 1/2--average increase of 42.5 inches (100% increase)
2 1/2 to 3 1/2--average increase of 20 inches (25% increase)
3 1/2 to 4 1/2--15 inch increase (15% increase)
4 1/2 to 5 1/2--5 inch increase (5% increase)

Now these are just the averages. INDIVIDUAL bucks can experience HUGE increases at any age, and I've seen some truly crazy examples.

Nice chart. Thanks BSK.

 

[TheLBLman]

And if you think that's IMPRESSIVE, let him survive to 3.5 and you'll be AMAZED !

Nice chart. Thanks BSK.

x 2

We need to change BSK's handle to BS DATA! :grin:
Well, oops, maybe BSK DaDataMan might sound better.

 

[RobbyW]

Ok I'll bite.....How do you know it's the same deer?

 

[Boone 58]

Love it!

 

[BSK]

Ok I'll bite.....How do you know it's the same deer?

With that unique antler configuration--the high-rise right antler and strangely curved-in-and-down left beam--I'll bet good money that's the same buck.

Normally, a buck's antler shape changes so much from yearling to 2 1/2 you can't track an individual buck between those two ages. But this buck's unique shape is a very strong indication it's the same animal one year later.

 

[southernhunter]

I see ppl posting pics of deer they get year from year. How do y'all know it's the same deer ? I'd love to be able to keep up with a deers growth season to season but can't tell which deer is which from one year to another.

 

[BSK]

I see ppl posting pics of deer they get year from year. How do y'all know it's the same deer ? I'd love to be able to keep up with a deers growth season to season but can't tell which deer is which from one year to another.

By looking at the antler configuration. Much of the shape of a buck's rack is genetic. They usually produce antlers with similar shapes or unique characteristics from year to year, even if the antlers grow larger or add points.

Quite often, the characteristics that give them away are slight twists or turns of the beam or an individual point. It's amazing how often I'm able to identify an individual buck from year to year by his browtines. For whatever reason, browtines tend to maintain any unique characteristic over the years more often than any other part of the rack. But look for the way upright tines are aligned, how they lean (straight up or leaning forwards or inwards, whether the beams end outwards or turned inwards, tendencies towards "crabclaw" beams and last points--anything that is unusual that might be reproduced from year to year.

 

[Shed Hunter]

I see ppl posting pics of deer they get year from year. How do y'all know it's the same deer ? I'd love to be able to keep up with a deers growth season to season but can't tell which deer is which from one year to another.

By looking at the antler configuration. Much of the shape of a buck's rack is genetic. They usually produce antlers with similar shapes or unique characteristics from year to year, even if the antlers grow larger or add points.

Quite often, the characteristics that give them away are slight twists or turns of the beam or an individual point. It's amazing how often I'm able to identify an individual buck from year to year by his browtines. For whatever reason, browtines tend to maintain any unique characteristic over the years more often than any other part of the rack. But look for the way upright tines are aligned, how they lean (straight up or leaning forwards or inwards, whether the beams end outwards or turned inwards, tendencies towards "crabclaw" beams and last points--anything that is unusual that might be reproduced from year to year.

The point at which a browtine starts on the beam will also almost never change. You can also tell by closely examining cuts in the ears.

 

[BSK]

Good points Master Chief.

 

[southernhunter]

thanks i start looking closer at the ears and such. most of our bucks could pass for twins from year to year.perfect 8 points.though i am sure if you could get a good enough pic they would be some slight differences

 

[BSK]

The VAST majority of the time, I CANNOT match a yearling buck to his appearance at 2 1/2. A buck's rack usually changes so much from his first set of antlers as a yearling to his twice as large antlers as a 2 1/2 year-old. Here's a prime example of how antlers change dramatically. The only way I could match this buck from yearling to 2 1/2 was his unique white socks on his rear legs.

Yearling:





2 1/2. Almost nothing about the antlers are similar:

 

[southernhunter]

Good pics , how long did you get pics of this deer ?

 

[Planking]

Big jump on that first buck. thread.

 

[BSK]

Good pics , how long did you get pics of this deer ?

He vanished after 2 1/2.

 

[BSK]

Here's an example of how a unique antler trait--even one probably caused by a previous injury--can be carried through life.

The first picture below is of a 3 1/2 year-old buck who has a deformed right antler (on the left in the picture), probably due to a past body or leg injury. The left antler is "normal," while the buck's right G2 has grown straight up like a big spike and is serving more as a main beam than as a point. The right main beam has become secondary to the rack in the way of mass and length. Also notice that his right browtine is taller than the left.

3 1/2:



Now here's the same buck two years later, when he is 5 1/2. Although the buck added considerable mass, and several kicker points around his bases on both sides, he still maintained the "normal" configuration on his left antler, and his right still displays the abnormal shape of the right G2 being a tall, vertical tine taller and heavier than the right beam. His right browtine is also still considerably longer than his left:

 

[wobblegobble]

cool stuff BSK