Sometimes they get bigger, sometimes they don't

[BSK]

Ski posted some great examples of bucks that added a lot of antler from year to year, as well as some that didn't. Exactly why some bucks "peak out" early and never add much beyond 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 is a mystery (but probably heavily influenced by individual genetics). Below are two videos of the same buck, the one on the left from last year, and the one on the right from this year. Not only has the buck not added anything (other than a small kicker off his left browtine, and a tiny G4 on his right beam), I think he's actually lost tine length and score. Now I would still shoot this buck in a heartbeat because of his age and unique rack, but I bet he doesn't gross over 120 due to the short tines.

But one interesting tidbit about this buck. Last year, he first showed up on camera Oct. 21. This year? Oct. 18 at the exact same traditional scrape!

 

[TheLBLman]

Not only has the buck not added anything (other than a small kicker off his left browtine, and a tiny G4 on his right beam), I think he's actually lost tine length and score.

Even if he's lost a minute amount of "score", I believe he is a more unique trophy buck this year than last.

I'd also speculate that should he survive another year, his uniqueness and overall "mass" will increase significantly, even if his "score" changes very little.

 

[TheLBLman]

Are you thinking he's most probably 4 1/2 this year?

 

[BSK]

Are you thinking he's most probably 4 1/2 this year?

That is a tough call. Last year, there was times I thought he was 4 1/2 and at times 3 1/2. But he does have an injury. He was limping hard on his left front leg last year and still is this year. That could be effecting his body mass. So he is either 4 1/2 or 5 1/2 this year. If I see him, I'm shooting! And although he probably won't score high, I would probably have him mounted just because he's very unique for the area. I've never seen a local buck with that antler configuration before.

 

[megalomaniac]

Sure they are the same buck? The one from this year looks to be 3.5... no way I would guess him at 4.5. LONG legs for a mature deer

 

[BSK]

Sure they are the same buck? The one from this year looks to be 3.5... no way I would guess him at 4.5. LONG legs for a mature deer

They are the same deer. Again, NEVER seen an antler configuration like that before in my area, especially the tall leaning-in-at-the-tips browtines. He's one of those bucks that defies body conformation aging.

 

[catman529]

I had a buck on cam since 2.5 two years ago. His rack grew pretty decent last year as a 3 year old, but he had a bad limp. He only showed up on camera once so far this year, and his rack shrunk already. I don't have pics handy but I could dig them up later

 

[TheLBLman]

For sure, physical injuries can cause antler atrophy, as well as odd growth.

 

[Ski]

It's a cool looking rack for sure. I love keeping up with them through the course of their life like that. I'm always anxious through summer, waiting to see how the next rack develops.

 

[Big Gun]

BSK, which Browning camera is that? I'm wanting a new one.

 

[bigjohn]

I worked at a place that had several deer on a private company owned piece of land. I watched one every year buck till it was at least 8 years old . First year I seen him and was able to identify him he was an 8 point . Over the next 6 years he never gained any more points , gained a little mass but not much. His body got huge and from about 4 on he was always the dominate buck in the group but never any growth in antler size. Great source of food and water so I'm thinking it had to be genetics.

 

[BSK]

BSK, which Browning camera is that? I'm wanting a new one.

Spec Ops Elite HP4. I absolutely LOVE these cameras. Incredible video quality, amazing flash range, quick trigger. If the camera has one downside, it's that it's highly susceptible to triggering on windy days, especially sunny windy days when sunlight on moving leaves tends to trigger it constantly. Best advice I can give is buy BIG capacity cards. I only use high transfer rate (100 MB/sec) 64 GB cards.

 

[Big Gun]

Spec Ops Elite HP4. I absolutely LOVE these cameras. Incredible video quality, amazing flash range, quick trigger. If the camera has one downside, it's that it's highly susceptible to triggering on windy days, especially sunny windy days when sunlight on moving leaves tends to trigger it constantly. Best advice I can give is buy BIG capacity cards. I only use high transfer rate (100 MB/sec) 64 GB cards.

Thank you.