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Growing Mature Bucks
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5506893" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>Just a little side story.</p><p></p><p>Last year (2021) I was specifically targeting a 7 1/2-yr-old buck.</p><p>I had seen this buck annually, likely even before I could sort his identity from other mainframe 8-pointers. As a 3 1/2 & 4 1/2, he was only slightly above average antlered (for the area), and by no means did he tickle my fancy. I don't think he would touch 130 gross as a 4 1/2.</p><p></p><p>But at 5 1/2, his antlers went up to over 140, as a mainframe 8. He was now on the potential shooter "list", but I was still not specifically looking for him. But the next year, as a 6 1/2, he became a 150-class mainframe 8, which I consider "world class" most anywhere in the U.S. He then became my #1 targeted buck in 2020. I had two opportunities to take a low-probability shot at him in 2020, almost got him, but didn't.</p><p></p><p>Surprisingly, he showed as a 7 1/2, still with impressive head-gear, still a mainframe 8, and still with the unique side-kicker that has made him so identifiable since 4 1/2. I planned to give a pass to all other bucks in 2021, specifically focusing on this one, or none. My plans were thwarted when a very accomplished bowhunters stuck this buck on the adjoining property. I spent many hours helping him try to find the buck I had named <em>"Buford". </em></p><p></p><p>Also spent many days trying to find the dead-head, but never found anything. In retrospect, I believe an unprecedented flood right after Buford was hit, likely washed him away in the creek he appeared to have gone.</p><p></p><p>I wish someone could have recovered him, but I have no regrets in the hunting "journey" made possible by simply giving a rather average mainframe 8 a pass. While I do have a large private hunting area, it's not large enough that most bucks don't spend more time on other people's property, as did this one. Yet he still survived to 7 1/2, and had to be on many other hunters' radar when he became 5 1/2 & older.</p><p></p><p>Just saying, don't worry so much about the guy down the ridge maybe shooting one you give a pass. Shoot what tickles your fancy, but keep in mind many bucks do not express enough of their antlers' genetic potential until the hit 5 1/2 (almost most will be close at 4 1/2).</p><p></p><p>If you really want to up the ante on producing above average antlered mature bucks in your hunting area, it's imperative to routinely give all 3 1/2's a pass.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5506893, member: 1409"] Just a little side story. Last year (2021) I was specifically targeting a 7 1/2-yr-old buck. I had seen this buck annually, likely even before I could sort his identity from other mainframe 8-pointers. As a 3 1/2 & 4 1/2, he was only slightly above average antlered (for the area), and by no means did he tickle my fancy. I don't think he would touch 130 gross as a 4 1/2. But at 5 1/2, his antlers went up to over 140, as a mainframe 8. He was now on the potential shooter "list", but I was still not specifically looking for him. But the next year, as a 6 1/2, he became a 150-class mainframe 8, which I consider "world class" most anywhere in the U.S. He then became my #1 targeted buck in 2020. I had two opportunities to take a low-probability shot at him in 2020, almost got him, but didn't. Surprisingly, he showed as a 7 1/2, still with impressive head-gear, still a mainframe 8, and still with the unique side-kicker that has made him so identifiable since 4 1/2. I planned to give a pass to all other bucks in 2021, specifically focusing on this one, or none. My plans were thwarted when a very accomplished bowhunters stuck this buck on the adjoining property. I spent many hours helping him try to find the buck I had named [I]"Buford". [/I] Also spent many days trying to find the dead-head, but never found anything. In retrospect, I believe an unprecedented flood right after Buford was hit, likely washed him away in the creek he appeared to have gone. I wish someone could have recovered him, but I have no regrets in the hunting "journey" made possible by simply giving a rather average mainframe 8 a pass. While I do have a large private hunting area, it's not large enough that most bucks don't spend more time on other people's property, as did this one. Yet he still survived to 7 1/2, and had to be on many other hunters' radar when he became 5 1/2 & older. Just saying, don't worry so much about the guy down the ridge maybe shooting one you give a pass. Shoot what tickles your fancy, but keep in mind many bucks do not express enough of their antlers' genetic potential until the hit 5 1/2 (almost most will be close at 4 1/2). If you really want to up the ante on producing above average antlered mature bucks in your hunting area, it's imperative to routinely give all 3 1/2's a pass. [/QUOTE]
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