8-9 year old buck still running does!

[wobblegobble]

We named this deer white socks in 2021 and he was fully mature then and still kicking. His rack size the last 2 years has declined!

 

[TheLBLman]

Proof that TN bucks CAN live longer than many hunters think;
Proof that antler high-grading is why he did?

Thanks for posting the pic

 

[TheLBLman]

Love it when a particular buck has very identifiable features.

 

[Rackseeker]

Dang it, you know the rut has been over in TN since the end of November. He has you patterned. LOL.......

 

[Ski]

Really cool history with the buck! Still looking spry.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Cool history!

 

[double browtine]

That is a really cool story on ole bruiser!! You ever find any of his sheds?

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Proof that TN bucks CAN live longer than many hunters think;
Proof that antler high-grading is why he did?

Thanks for posting the pic

Your favorite axe.

 

[BSK]

I wish our bucks would live that long. In 27 years of running camera censuses on my place, I've gotten just one buck 7 1/2 years old on my place. And I don't have a poaching problem or neighbors shooting too many older bucks.

 

[Billboy]

saw a pretty good buck trailing 3 does this morning. They don't know it's over yet!

 

[thirdwilliam]

thanks for posting

 

[TheLBLman]

saw a pretty good buck trailing 3 does this morning. They don't know it's over yet!

Peak rut dates do vary across TN, but for most areas, the rut was mostly over by mid-December (if not late November), and the older bucks did know it The evidence of this is their ceasing to roam, looking for a hot doe, then grouping back into bachelor groups of bucks, focused on feeding.

I would suspect most rutting activity seen in late January here is the result of a fawn coming into its first estrous. While the bucks are no longer roaming in search of hot does, they are crossing paths with some young hotties as they feed in the same areas.

Also, bucks will often "trail" doe groups into feeding areas now, just like they often do pre-rut. And if a young doe (or an old one) happens to come into estrous, yes, any buck getting a whiff will begin pursuing that doe.

 

[hbg1]

Is it just me or does that deers body not look that old? I know he is ran down but still.

 

[TheLBLman]

I wish our bucks would live that long. In 27 years of running camera censuses on my place, I've gotten just one buck 7 1/2 years old on my place.

I've actually seen at least a half dozen believed to be 7 1/2 or older over the past 25 seasons, only a few miles north of your place. One was likely 9 1/2, and a couple maybe 8 1/2 when they died (or appeared to have died}. All were below average antlered as young bucks (at least in terms of B&C score).

I believe without exception, they all grew numerous sticker points before they died, while none were known to have non-typical tines when younger. And if memory serves correct, everyone one of them scored less (again, via B&C score) at 7 1/2 or older than at 5 1/2 & 6 1/2. Best I can figure, 6 1/2 is where they're likely to have their best overall antlers (in "my" book), although some will score higher at 5 1/2.

If an above average antlered buck can survive to 5 1/2 or 6 1/2, those are the ages where he's most probably going to have his overall best antlers.

I would like to think you are going to begin seeing more 6 1/2 & older bucks in your area, but all areas along the Western Highland Rim (such as Humphreys, Houston, Stewart Counties) may be now rapidly deteriorating in terms of the presence of older bucks. And it may matter little whether you have 500 acres or 5,000 acres you're attempting to "manage".

 

[Ski]

I wish our bucks would live that long. In 27 years of running camera censuses on my place, I've gotten just one buck 7 1/2 years old on my place. And I don't have a poaching problem or neighbors shooting too many older bucks.

If it's not hunting pressure then it's environmental. Here where I hunt in TN it's mild terrain but hunting pressure is off the charts. I see few bucks hit 5.5yrs and none older. My place in Ohio has ultra low hunting pressure but steep terrain with mature open timber. Almost half the bucks reach 5.5yrs but almost never 7.5yrs. 20 miles away in the glacial plane ag country it's not unheard of for one to reach double digits.

Simply put bucks with an easy life live a long time. Bucks that have to work hard to survive and/or run a gauntlet of hunters do not live long.

 

[jejeffrries71]

saw a pretty good buck trailing 3 does this morning. They don't know it's over yet!

That's because they don't have internet.