How often do you get "big" deer on camera?

[Dumbluck]

Depends upon what land I have access to. I've hunted some farms that had multiple deer over 140 and I've had others that may produce one every 4 to 5 years. Some of those deer sometimes are almost as hard to get photos of as they are to kill them. Before I had a family and kids I used to scout relentlessly especially during the late summer. I could find deer in the summer that I could almost never get pictures of, I would sometimes get 1 or 2 photos of them in a year if I was lucky. I had 1 deer I could find in the summer and we might get 1 picture of him a season. I had another deer that I ran over 20 cameras on in less than 400 acres of agriculture and river bottom and I only got 1 picture of him that entire season. I finally killed him and he was a 9 pt with a kicker that grossed 174.

The point is sometimes cameras don't tell the whole story. I remember before we had trail cameras I would find deer in the summer that people wouldn't believe me about, I started filming them and have footage somewhere on vhs of huge bucks over 150 before they became as prevalent as they are today.

I was a very happy and excited hunter when they announced the summer velvet hunt, that first year it was open. I killed a main frame 7pt with some junk that grossed over 160. We never had a single picture of that deer and none of the neighbors knew he existed. I only knew he was there by summer scouting.

 

[XCR-2]

These are a few of my biggest. None were ever seen again after these pics. Don't know the scores but big for East Tennessee.

 

[Ski]

Those are big deer anywhere!

 

[tree_ghost]

This is a loaded question for me. I feel as if I've only been off the skill set in the last 5 years to consistently get on them. So before that I only can remember 3 over 140" I ever located. However I have greatly improved in my craft since then and now I'm usually in the game on at least 2 every year. Had as many as 9 in one season…

 

[XCR-2]

Those are big deer anywhere!

Any guesses on score? The bottom one I think is the biggest, I'm putting him in the 160ish range, the 8 I'm gonna go with 140's and the other high 150's. But I could be way off.

 

[XCR-2]

This one was 162. He dead

 

[Ski]

Any guesses on score? The bottom one I think is the biggest, I'm putting him in the 160ish range, the 8 I'm gonna go with 140's and the other high 150's. But I could be way off.

Hard to say with only one pic per buck, especially in velvet.

I do think you'd be surprised if you were to measure the first three bucks. First thing I look at is the size relation between the eyeballs and antler bases. A deer eyeball is generally an inch diameter, so 3.14" circumference. From that you can begin to crudely gage antler inches.

Case in point, look at the 162". Notice how those bases appear twice as wide as the eyes, so you're looking at over 6" girth measurements. The bases on the other bucks are barely larger than eyes, so you're looking at half the mass. And when it comes to scores, girth really adds up fast to make the difference. Two identical frames but one with 3.5" bases and the other with 6.5" bases could end up with dramatically different scores.

Also consider that tip to tip the width from one ear to the other is roughly 15"-17". Your 162 is way outside his ears, likely considerably more than 20" spread. None of the first three are anywhere near that. I'd say they range from 12"-17" spreads. The first deer's outside spread is still inside his ears, even with the velvet boost.

Those are things I look at when rough guessing scores. It's never exact but it gets me in the ballpark, and is more trusty than just going with my first glance gut feeling.

 

[JT262]

never

 

[Falconi]

I'm too new here to answer. However, I'm curious about your scoring guesses on this buck.

Hard to see the whole rack, I know.

 

[Ski]

I'm too new here to answer. However, I'm curious about your scoring guesses on this buck.
View attachment 158278
Hard to see the whole rack, I know.

He's a big boy! At a glance I'd guess 140s

 

[tree_ghost]

I'm too new here to answer. However, I'm curious about your scoring guesses on this buck.
View attachment 158278
Hard to see the whole rack, I know.

Looks like there is some trash at his bases but I can't be sure. Looks like a mid 130's to me. Trash may take him up a little. Beautiful mature buck!

 

[wobblegobble]

126????

 

[wobblegobble]

Think he ended up around 155. Neighbor killed him. The first year on camera he was maybe a 110" 2.5 year old 10 point. He just exploded after. I've had numerous "big" deer, 120+, but he's by far the biggest. As a 10….View attachment 157262View attachment 157261View attachment 157263View attachment 157264

Huh?

 

[wobblegobble]

Most don't know what a 140 incher looks like….or how to properly score

 

[Shed Hunter]

Huh?

That's a big deer he posted earlier in the thread at 2.5 as opposed to when it was a very nice 12pt

 

[wobblegobble]

That's a big deer he posted earlier in the thread at 2.5 as opposed to when it was a very nice 12pt

Oh

 

[UCStandSitter]

I see more leprechauns and unicorns than I do 140+ deer

 

[WilcoKen]

I think this 8 will go close to 140. Ive got him on camera the last 3 years. Never seen him while hunting.

 

[Fatboy99]

Every 2-3 years, usually on my smallest and least hunted property, nothing but hardwoods.

 

[Ski]

I think this 8 will go close to 140. Ive got him on camera the last 3 years. Never seen him while hunting.

I'd say that's a fair guess. He might not score as much as you'd think. The brows and right G3 are pretty short for that frame. But it is a giant frame and the other tines are quite long. He might get there. It wouldn't surprise me if he busted 140. It also wouldn't surprise me if he barely cleared 130. Night pics are hard to judge mass and those circumference measurements are sneaky. They make or break a score.

All that said, that dude is a STUD! That frame is impressive and commands attention. He would not get a pass from me. Hope you get him!