Same here. A buck doesn't really look old around here until he's 5yrs+.
And on my big woods Ohio place bucks never get the stumpy leg look. They're always lean with long legs even into old age.
Mass and age
- Thread starter BSK
- Start date
Same here. A buck doesn't really look old around here until he's 5yrs+.
And on my big woods Ohio place bucks never get the stumpy leg look. They're always lean with long legs even into old age.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
On my farms in TN, never.
I think large pedicle size (not counting injured/deformed pedicles) is one of the greatest correlating factors with age.
But while large pedicles almost always correlates with older deer, small pedicles do not necessarily correlate with younger deer.
But there are genetic anomalies, so it isn't impossible for a middle aged buck to have insane mass. Heck, look at what.the deer farmers have accomplished... 1.5yos with 5.5in bases!
For the client, do 1 of 2 things... if he is high scoring (150 plus, depends on clients expectations), put him on the kill list and check his jawbone. If he isn't a super high scoring deer, put him on the do not kill list and see what he becomes next year.
I think large pedicle size (not counting injured/deformed pedicles) is one of the greatest correlating factors with age.
But while large pedicles almost always correlates with older deer, small pedicles do not necessarily correlate with younger deer.
But there are genetic anomalies, so it isn't impossible for a middle aged buck to have insane mass. Heck, look at what.the deer farmers have accomplished... 1.5yos with 5.5in bases!
For the client, do 1 of 2 things... if he is high scoring (150 plus, depends on clients expectations), put him on the kill list and check his jawbone. If he isn't a super high scoring deer, put him on the do not kill list and see what he becomes next year.
BSK
Well-Known Member
He's on the kill list. I want to see that jawbone.
Outdoor Enthusiast
Well-Known Member
Hopefully they will kill him and you can report back on the results.
Not much mass but an incredible deer my son killed a few years ago. I thought he was 3.5. I wish we would have had his jawbone aged. One man could put him in the truck.
BSK
Well-Known Member
That's a heck of a buck 74MOPAR! Love those forked G3s! Any idea what he scored?
We never had him officially scored, I think we came up with 163" . Luckiest kid ever
BSK
Well-Known Member
That score sounds right for that size buck.We never had him officially scored, I think we came up with 163" . Luckiest kid ever
We never had him officially scored, I think we came up with 163" . Luckiest kid ever
Whew! That buck had no short measurements.
I"'m no expert, but deer are like people. There's always an anomaly out there that doesnt follow the rules.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I completely agree with that assessment.
