Broken Points & Racks

Inventry
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

A

Archer212

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
10
City & State/Province
PA
I have been involved with a QDM effort on a 1500 acre land parcel for fourteen years. Overall we are happy with the quality of the bucks we are harvesting but we constantly notice many of larger bucks have broken points or racks. When I look at photos on bucks harvested by people in other areas or states, it seems the vast majority are unbroken. Not sure if we have too much competition between the older bucks or some other reason. Any thoughts on why we see so many broken racked bucks on our property?
 
Broken racks are usually the sign of more buck competition. That is a good thing (although broken racks are disappointing for the hunter).

Considering the vast improvement in buck age structure in PA of late, and higher doe harvests, I suspect competition is driving your experiences.
 
BSK / HH

We figured we have a good situation (with quantity of bucks) but unfortunately during the rut, the fighting must be intense due to the age structure. We really work on harvesting does and our buck harvests (for the amount of area we have) is not that high. Much of that is because people have raised there own standards or if it is busted, they let it walk. Of course letting busted rack bucks go is not bad considering they will get older.

In 2008, we harvested 5 bucks. We age each buck (Matson's Lab). Those bucks aged at 5.5(1), 3.5(3) and 2.5(1). In 2009 we harvested 8 bucks but will not receive their ages back until late March.

Thanks for your input.
 
I'm with the other guys, broken racks are a good thing. I've never witnessed a buck fight (or even heard one for that matter), until around 4 or 5 years ago- a handful of years AFTER implementing my current management strategies. Now I'll usually see a couple a year and hear 4 or 5 more fights during the prerut.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
I observed an inordinate number of broken racks this year, especially late in the year (post-rut).
 
I've seen alot of bucks carrying broken racks over the last several years. This year I heard fighting going on just over a ridge I was hunting and when I came climbed down I actually found a freshly broken off half of an 8 pointer rack from where I had heard the sounds. I've passed on at least a half dozen bucks I'd have considered shooting becaue they were missing part of their racks.
 
I have noticed a lot of busted up racks on three properties that I hunt. It seems I see more every year than I did the previous year.
 
W.Seay said:
I have noticed a lot of busted up racks on three properties that I hunt. It seems I see more every year than I did the previous year.
Click to expand...


Same here. A lot has to do with the more and more of doe harvest IMO. Still has a way to go. But it showing that the heard is getting somewhat closer in balance. Since we have focus on shooting more does. We are seeing more buck fights and broken racks. More competition. We have taken 40 does in the past two years. Off 600 acres and still see a ton of does. But it is paying off
 
Sad to see a would be shooter with a busted up or braoken rack. I remember BSK having a mature shooter in front of one of his cameras a while back... he was busted up something terrible. Looked like he tangled with a MACK truck or something!
 
Re: Broken Points & Racks

backstraps said:
I remember BSK having a mature shooter in front of one of his cameras a while back... he was busted up something terrible. Looked like he tangled with a MACK truck or something!
Click to expand...

Last year:
buck0820f.jpg



This year:
buck0918a.jpg
 
thicketmaster said:
bsk did u see or get a pic of that buck this year? and how old was he?
Click to expand...

Yes, the bottom pic is from this last hunting season and I got multiple pictures of him during the season--all at night. He's now 5 1/2.
 
BSK said:
thicketmaster said:
bsk did u see or get a pic of that buck this year? and how old was he?
Click to expand...

Yes, the bottom pic is from this last hunting season and I got multiple pictures of him during the season--all at night. He's now 5 1/2.
Click to expand...
just a thought,was he mostly on one camera at night?If so,and It probably wont work but,maybe hunting a dfferent area would help a hunter "luck" into a mature buck.??Maybe??
 
Football Hunter said:
BSK said:
thicketmaster said:
bsk did u see or get a pic of that buck this year? and how old was he?
Click to expand...

Yes, the bottom pic is from this last hunting season and I got multiple pictures of him during the season--all at night. He's now 5 1/2.
Click to expand...
just a thought,was he mostly on one camera at night?If so,and It probably wont work but,maybe hunting a dfferent area would help a hunter "luck" into a mature buck.??Maybe??
Click to expand...

Got just over a dozen pictures of him from 4 different locations. All night pictures. He's fully nocturnal just like his 5 1/2 year-old buddy that I got ove 40 pictures of from more than a dozen camera locations, again all at night.

Both have learned how to survive--move only at night. And it's working well for them! :(
 
I had a deer like this that i only got night time pics of for 3 years never would have known the deer was there if it wasnt for the cameras.i had nicknamed the deer the ghost.on the last day of nov this year i caught him on his feet right after daylight on the down wind side of a bedding area scent checking i guess.the rut is the only reason i killed this deer.
 
In the past two years, the 3 mature bucks that were killed on our properties (none by me) all had at least one broken tine. Last year a main frame 10 with kickers on the G2's, both broken off. This year an 8 with a broken brow and a 12 with a broken G3.
 
Re: Broken Points & Racks

thicketmaster said:
the rut is the only reason i killed this deer.
Click to expand...

The rut is the only reason we kill most of the mature bucks we kill. I don't believe we've ever killed a mature buck outside of our local mid to late-November rut window.
 
I harvested three bucks this year, an eight,nine, and ten pointer. All three had mutiple broken points!!
 
I have only heard and seen a few buck fights, but almost all the relaxed bucks I have seen have engaged in some type of rubbing behavior.

I have a theory that a lot of the broken points you see are NOT from fighting but from torquing their rack side to side while rubbing.

How many broken racks do you see vs. the number of injuries on the same bucks? Sure injuries can heal, but if the fight is that violent, I would expect to see more scars on the deer.
Not sure how to test this theory.
 
I have killed 2 mature bucks outside the rut very early in the season feeding on bean fields when there very predictable on there feeding habits but they seem to change patterns and leave this time of year
 
thicketmaster said:
I have killed 2 mature bucks outside the rut very early in the season feeding on bean fields when there very predictable on there feeding habits but they seem to change patterns and leave this time of year
Click to expand...

I've always said there are two times when mature bucks are most susceptible to harvest: 1) the first two weeks of bow season, when they are still on predictable summer feeding patterns; and 2) the two weeks before peak breeding, when they are on their feet and on the move constantly looking for the first receptive does.
 
BSK said:
thicketmaster said:
I have killed 2 mature bucks outside the rut very early in the season feeding on bean fields when there very predictable on there feeding habits but they seem to change patterns and leave this time of year
Click to expand...

I've always said there are two times when mature bucks are most susceptible to harvest: 1) the first two weeks of bow season, when they are still on predictable summer feeding patterns; and 2) the two weeks before peak breeding, when they are on their feet and on the move constantly looking for the first receptive does.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
thicketmaster said:
I have killed 2 mature bucks outside the rut very early in the season feeding on bean fields when there very predictable on there feeding habits but they seem to change patterns and leave this time of year
Click to expand...
I think mostly by Tns opener,the bucks have already changed that summer pattern,for the most part
 
football hunter i agree most the time the mature bucks that i have watched all summer long will leave.but every once in a while one will still be in his old routine at the first part of bow season and i will be there to take full advantage of that.
 
thicketmaster said:
football hunter i agree most the time the mature bucks that i have watched all summer long will leave.but every once in a while one will still be in his old routine at the first part of bow season and i will be there to take full advantage of that.
Click to expand...
Ill be there to give it a try
 

Latest posts

Back
Top