Benjamin Buckin

[Ski]

This old deer showed up early fall a couple years ago seemingly out of nowhere. When he first showed up his left side was messed up like his brow was trying to be a third beam. The next year it moved outward to being a flier off the back of his G2. Now this year it moved on out again to be a flier off the beam between G2 & G3. He was plenty old enough to shoot back in 23' but I've never seen him in person. Each year that his rack anomaly creeps outward his frame looks more normal and he looks younger. Like Benjamin Button he's aging in reverse lol. If this year was the first time I saw the buck I'd swear he was a 3.5 or 4.5yr old.

Pictures are all in same spot but camera and angle changed year to year.

 

[BSK]

That is a truly fascinating history!

 

[BSK]

I could be wrong, but I think our very tough conditions last year (brutal drought all summer, total acorn crop failure), had some of our bucks looking younger than normal. I had an inordinate number of bucks I judged as 3 1/2, and a very uncharacteristic lack of mature bucks. I honestly think some of those 3 1/2s were actually mature.

 

[Ski]

I could be wrong, but I think our very tough conditions last year (brutal drought all summer, total acorn crop failure), had some of our bucks looking younger than normal. I had an inordinate number of bucks I judged as 3 1/2, and a very uncharacteristic lack of mature bucks. I honestly think some of those 3 1/2s were actually mature.

I'd guess you're correct. I shot one this past season I know for sure was mature but I had to take a double look before pulling the trigger because he looked younger than I knew he was. I had to be sure it was the buck I thought it was. Lucky for me he was with a doe and wasn't going anywhere or else I'd have missed the opportunity thinking he was too young.

 

[CrossVolle]

I could be wrong, but I think our very tough conditions last year (brutal drought all summer, total acorn crop failure), had some of our bucks looking younger than normal. I had an inordinate number of bucks I judged as 3 1/2, and a very uncharacteristic lack of mature bucks. I honestly think some of those 3 1/2s were actually mature.

Almost every 3/4 year old we had in 23 took a step back in 24.

 

[BSK]

Almost every 3/4 year old we had in 23 took a step back in 24.

That does not shock me. With the rough year we had (all bucks had dropped their antlers by Jan 10 - never seen anything like it), I'm worried what kind of antler growth we will see this year.

 

[Dennis]

Love the bases on that one