What does it for you?

[MUP]

Not too keen on pencil thin antlers, but I checked mass as well. Heavy will cover less width and tine length for me every time.

 

[rem270]

Booty

Figured you went for the neck

 

[Omega]

I've always been a leg man but.....

Yup, I like Butt too.

 

[Chiflyguy]

Booty

Okay Sir Mix A Lot lol

 

[Mud Creek]

Where I live it would have to be

5. The fact that they have them

 

[74MOPAR]

Nice and wide

 

[Wolverine72]

Anything that makes my heart skip a beat, but I do like the looks of a tall rack. It's all good as long as it helps fill a freezer

 

[DMD]

Width or spread is nothing but air.

So is the distance people shoot, but they still love to brag about that

 

[Shed Hunter]

Long main beams

 

[Gravey]

Booty

Yes siree!!!

For the question above I voted mass but like spread too. If his body is mature that's the main thing.

 

[gasman]

If his body is mature that's the main thing.

I prefer female bodies, but if thats your thing, then have at it. Just leave me alone

 

[tdt5446]

Let the moment decide.

 

[Snake]

Actually could be any of them for me just a decent rack then I'm on go . Will shoot a small one if it calls for it I ain't hunting for just fact to go I want to kill something kinda like DA .

 

[Swampster]

So is the distance people shoot, but they still love to brag about that

Oh yeah? I bet I have missed at longer distances than you have!

 

[CliffordN]

I kinda like Width, Height, Mass, and Long Brows!

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Wrong kind of Deer their Ruger

I had to chuckle at this….

I will never forget about one time I had gone to the parts store with my grandfather. We were small talking to the guy behind the counter while he was filling out the bill…

I was a young teenager and my grandfather hadn't really talked about some things… As the guy went back to the isle to get a part, my grandfather made a joke about me "chasing whitetails and not the 4 legged kind". Since we didn't really chat about such things and I deer hunted growing up… his joke kinda tripped me up for a minute… but we had a good laugh at his funny. I sure do miss my granddad…

 

[TJS209]

Where's the "all of the above" vote

 

[TheLBLman]

I was pleased to see most chose "mass".

"Mass" is the one feature that really "stands out" at great distances
where antlers would otherwise not even be visible.

"Mass" comes with Age.
If you really want mass, you've got to let bucks walk until
they are AT LEAST 4 1/2 yrs of age.

Not on the survey, but after mass,
I would say "uniqueness", such as "sticker" points, drop tines, etc.
Of course, those unique things also mostly come at 4 1/2 or older.

Sadly, at least to me, most above average antlered TN bucks
get killed when they are 2 1/2 yrs of age, a few make it to 3 1/2,
but almost none of the above averaged antlered survive to 4 1/2 or older.

True, we don't have a fair representation of mature bucks in TN.
It's just most surviving to maturity are limited to those born with below average
antler genetics. But even those typically still produce great mass and "unique" features by 5 1/2 or older.

 

[TheLBLman]

Where's the "all of the above" vote

As to those very few bucks genetically predispositioned for antlers that "have it all",
almost none will live past 2 1/2 yrs of age, as they "stand out" so much
they get specifically targeted both by legitimate hunters and illegal poachers.

There is also the issue that a 120-class rack on a 2 1/2-yr-old buck often gets mistaken for a 140-class rack if had been on a 3 1/2-yr-old buck.

 

[WTM]

like em spread wide.