How much more?

[RobbyW]

I posted a picture of a buck the in my opionion is already a nice deer. Fat body big deer. Already has an impressive rack and the end of June. I heard Jume is the biggest grow month, but what will the do in Kuly August? Lets say he is pushing 100 now ( not an Internet scorer, I guess best when the are laying in front of my and I have a tapemeasure in hand). But let's say he is pushing 100 right now, what could I expect in the next 2.5 months?

 

[Shed Hunter]

100" would be EXTREMELY good for now. That buck is not even close to that though. It shouldn't be that big already so that's nothing to worry about. Score won't mean anything until he is done growing.

I can't promise anything, but I had a buck that was the similar to him last year (same time period 6/26) and I'm confident he ended up around 135 (probably more)

 

[deerhunter10]

yeah i just saw it he's definitely not 100 yet. but he will be a pretty good one. id say around 130-140ish is what he'll be around. give or take

 

[Andy S.]

While June is the peak growth month (inches per day), there are too many factors (environmental, nutrition, availability of water, different antler growth rates per individual buck, etc) to give a definite answer. The plus side is if he is off to a good start then more times than not he will end up being a good one per se, but I would not say that is the case 100% of the time.

 

[BSK]

Impossible to say. Some bucks start antler growth early but also finish early. Some start late but don't finish until late.

 

[BHC]

Impossible to say. Some bucks start antler growth early but also finish early. Some start late but don't finish until late.

X2, we've seen bucks finish growing in mid July, and then in mid aug as well. One thing I have noticed so you know when he's about done, is they grow from there bases to there tips. Meaning hell grow up too his
brow tines first, then up to his g2's hell grow his g2's and proceed to the g3's and so on. So by mid July many deer have done all they'll do from the g2's back and maybe even g3's.. ( some growth may occur, but likely not enough for u to know it.
This is somewhat obvious but the point is he want continue to add inches to his tines until he's done growing. His brows may be done now g2's next week and then hell finish up whatever else toward the end of his beams.. Also as long as the tips of beams appear bulb like they are still growing...

 

[BSK]

Watch the end of the buck's tines and beams. If they are still growing, the tips of each tine/beam will be bulbous and shiny. Once they begin to narrow down to a point and get more dull, they are finished growing.

 

[BSK]

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Look at the buck staring at the camera in both of the below pictures. In the first picture, the ends of his tines/beams are still "fat" and shiny (look dark). But in the second picture, taken a few weeks later, his tine/beam tips have narrowed down and look dull. By the time the second picture was taken, his antlers had finished growing.

 

[TheLBLman]

Also notice in BSK's two pics of the same buck . . . . . .

There is no obvious increase in length of the G-1's from the 1st pic to the 2nd. However, there is a very noticeable increase in the main beams' length, i.e. note the smaller space between the tips in the 2nd pic.

 

[Shed Hunter]

I doubt the guy that posted this will mind me linking it.
http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/s ... w-s-update

http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/s ... -brow-tine

The buck grossed 171 last year (he found the sheds) Unless it is going to be substancially larger, I bet he'll be about finished by August.

 

[Shed Hunter]

Also notice in BSK's two pics of the same buck . . . . . .

There is no obvious increase in length of the G-1's from the 1st pic to the 2nd. However, there is a very noticeable increase in the main beams' length, i.e. note the smaller space between the tips in the 2nd pic.

Also there is G2 growth.

 

[TheLBLman]

Also there is G2 growth.

Yes, but it's just not as much nor as noticeable as the main beam growth.

As others have pointed out, the closer to the head, the sooner the growth finishes. The G-1's were essentially done in the first pic, while the G-2's were still able to add a little more by the 2nd. Also note there was little difference in the spread width from pic 1 to pic 2.

I've noticed that once a buck is about at the stage of either BSK's Pic 1 or Pic 2, having more favorable conditions (mainly more rainfall) during that current stage of antler development vs. average conditions, can make a significant difference in tine length. In other words the length of G-2's, G-3's, and G-4's can become much longer in a final spurt of growth if rainfall and food sources are above average during that final growth period (while there is no increase in width or general appearance other than tine length).

I often wonder how much some hunters are actually stunting their tine growth when they are feeding corn during the summer months, since the ingestion of low-protein corn probably causes the deer to eat less of the high-protein other available foods that would otherwise be consumed if the corn were not present. (At this stage, protein is what's needed for antler growth.)

 

[MattR]

I love this SDHT forum at this time of year. Maybe it's only the more serious hunters or somethin but it seems like I learn alot more when I'm on during this time of year. You guys rock

 

[Football Hunter]

Also notice in BSK's two pics of the same buck . . . . . .

There is no obvious increase in length of the G-1's from the 1st pic to the 2nd. However, there is a very noticeable increase in the main beams' length, i.e. note the smaller space between the tips in the 2nd pic.

Good eye,I bet he added 4" plus or minus on beam length between the 2 of them.