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Quality Deer Management
Growing Mature Bucks
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5495424" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>Just add a bit to this . . . .</p><p></p><p>A growing number of hunters are defining a "shooter" buck as much by age as by antlers.</p><p></p><p>Just to be clear, antlers matter, but nearly every year, I pass up some 3 1/2's with higher scoring antlers than a mature buck I target (and may or may not kill). Most years, I also pass up some 4 1/2 & older bucks because of their below par (and/or broken up) antlers.</p><p></p><p>I'm not complaining, and am very happy with my style of hunting. Just pointing out that when one focuses greatly on age, this has the additional side effect of selecting by body size. Most mature bucks should have larger bodies than most 3 1/2s.</p><p></p><p>Even if the mature buck weighs less on a certain date, he will often "appear" to have a larger body due to greater chest depth, wider body, greater belly sag, and maybe a slightly larger skeletal frame. A 4 1/2 will often "appear" to have a larger body than a 3 1/2, even when both weigh the same. This is even more the case when comparing a 5 1/2 to a 3 1/2.</p><p></p><p>All of my "target" bucks are 5 1/2 or older.</p><p>I believe it's also fair to say I'm selecting as much by body size as by antlers,</p><p>simply because of the average size differences between mature bucks</p><p>and bucks 3 1/2 & younger.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5495424, member: 1409"] Just add a bit to this . . . . A growing number of hunters are defining a "shooter" buck as much by age as by antlers. Just to be clear, antlers matter, but nearly every year, I pass up some 3 1/2's with higher scoring antlers than a mature buck I target (and may or may not kill). Most years, I also pass up some 4 1/2 & older bucks because of their below par (and/or broken up) antlers. I'm not complaining, and am very happy with my style of hunting. Just pointing out that when one focuses greatly on age, this has the additional side effect of selecting by body size. Most mature bucks should have larger bodies than most 3 1/2s. Even if the mature buck weighs less on a certain date, he will often "appear" to have a larger body due to greater chest depth, wider body, greater belly sag, and maybe a slightly larger skeletal frame. A 4 1/2 will often "appear" to have a larger body than a 3 1/2, even when both weigh the same. This is even more the case when comparing a 5 1/2 to a 3 1/2. All of my "target" bucks are 5 1/2 or older. I believe it's also fair to say I'm selecting as much by body size as by antlers, simply because of the average size differences between mature bucks and bucks 3 1/2 & younger. [/QUOTE]
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