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The 2020 antler conundrum
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<blockquote data-quote="Shed Hunter" data-source="post: 4997658" data-attributes="member: 10556"><p>The future of deer hunting is something that has my interest peaked more so than anything right now. Which is wild because.. well we all witness the great s-show the world put on in 2020. </p><p></p><p>It's hard to know why and how specific things come about the way they do. I also photographed some of the highest end 2.5-3.5 year olds I ever have this year. Right up there with 2010-2012. The most intriguing fact is these are not supplemented deer-in any way. Some of them having no access to even agriculture. In fact, if I refer back to the majority of 140" or better 3.5 year olds I have photographed or been a part of the process of photographing them, it would almost seem the management efforts made absolutely no difference in the animal growing an unusually large set of antlers PREMATURELY.</p><p></p><p>With that being said the majority of these deer are living on our public forest land. Along with the deer I've watched I often wonder about what habitat Bobby Worthington's monsters from East TN come from. Many of these deer being deer he watched from a young age grow they're already large antlers into an appropriately larger set of antlers for a deer of that age. Key part to the last sentence being "appropriately large for a deer of that age."</p><p></p><p>An above average young buck raises my interest level more so than any deer-even a mature buck with, as referred to earlier, an appropriately large set of antlers. I continue to stress this because even with photographing a handful of 150" 3.5 year old deer I still have yet to photograph a deer that will undoubtably break 170" This being a mark I consider on even a mature buck to be an uncharacteristically large set of antlers. The highest known scoring deer I've followed (a buck I actually remember picking Mr. BSK's brain about a few times) first showed up in the winter of 2010. BSK had pointed out it was likely only a 3.5 year old deer. Sporting tall tines and long beams I figured the deer to be pushing 155-160" at 3.5. The next year he grew-but not an absurd amount. In fact, he never grew an absurd amount. The highest known score is actually from a shed antler I was given this last year by the man who killed him. (Best tip for a Sheetrock job ever) He was 8.5 when harvested. The shed antler scores 75" and he was nearly perfect as for symmetry. His antler score at death was probably under 135"</p><p></p><p>Fortunately I do have a couple of ag land deer on camera this year that have the same potential. With the increased management mentality I do wonder what kind of deer the future holds. Particularly on free range Midwestern or Texas properties where even supplemental feeding may take place in abundance. Some of these products we're quick to label gimmicks may do just what they're designed to do over time. I suppose all we can do is watch them grow up and see if they explode into a giant or not.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Shed Hunter, post: 4997658, member: 10556"] The future of deer hunting is something that has my interest peaked more so than anything right now. Which is wild because.. well we all witness the great s-show the world put on in 2020. It’s hard to know why and how specific things come about the way they do. I also photographed some of the highest end 2.5-3.5 year olds I ever have this year. Right up there with 2010-2012. The most intriguing fact is these are not supplemented deer-in any way. Some of them having no access to even agriculture. In fact, if I refer back to the majority of 140” or better 3.5 year olds I have photographed or been a part of the process of photographing them, it would almost seem the management efforts made absolutely no difference in the animal growing an unusually large set of antlers PREMATURELY. With that being said the majority of these deer are living on our public forest land. Along with the deer I’ve watched I often wonder about what habitat Bobby Worthington’s monsters from East TN come from. Many of these deer being deer he watched from a young age grow they’re already large antlers into an appropriately larger set of antlers for a deer of that age. Key part to the last sentence being “appropriately large for a deer of that age.” An above average young buck raises my interest level more so than any deer-even a mature buck with, as referred to earlier, an appropriately large set of antlers. I continue to stress this because even with photographing a handful of 150” 3.5 year old deer I still have yet to photograph a deer that will undoubtably break 170” This being a mark I consider on even a mature buck to be an uncharacteristically large set of antlers. The highest known scoring deer I’ve followed (a buck I actually remember picking Mr. BSK’s brain about a few times) first showed up in the winter of 2010. BSK had pointed out it was likely only a 3.5 year old deer. Sporting tall tines and long beams I figured the deer to be pushing 155-160” at 3.5. The next year he grew-but not an absurd amount. In fact, he never grew an absurd amount. The highest known score is actually from a shed antler I was given this last year by the man who killed him. (Best tip for a Sheetrock job ever) He was 8.5 when harvested. The shed antler scores 75” and he was nearly perfect as for symmetry. His antler score at death was probably under 135” Fortunately I do have a couple of ag land deer on camera this year that have the same potential. With the increased management mentality I do wonder what kind of deer the future holds. Particularly on free range Midwestern or Texas properties where even supplemental feeding may take place in abundance. Some of these products we’re quick to label gimmicks may do just what they’re designed to do over time. I suppose all we can do is watch them grow up and see if they explode into a giant or not. [/QUOTE]
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