Mature buck question
#11
RE: Mature buck question
Body size does matter in maturity of a whitetail. There is a diffrence in body size of a 3 1/2 year old buck and a 5 1/2 year old buck. the 5 1/2 has a fuller chest and neck, and weighs more. It's a proven fact.
slayer
slayer
#12
RE: Mature buck question
Most bucks that are 3 1/2 or younger tend to have very little mass.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 638
RE: Mature buck question
buckeyebuckhntr:
I have no hard feelings, I just wanted to make sure that you know what I was talking about. Nice buck in your picture, did you get him shoulder mounted?
Deerslayer_37:
[/quote]Body size does matter in maturity of a whitetail. There is a diffrence in body size of a 3 1/2 year old buck and a 5 1/2 year old buck. the 5 1/2 has a fuller chest and neck, and weighs more. It's a proven fact.
Of course I know its a proven fact. I spend a large part of my life looking at bucks and aging them by there body. In my first post, I said that body characteristics and tooth wear are the only ways to properly age a deer. There is a huge difference (body wise) between a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/2 year old deer.
MDManiac:
Just to let you know, this 2 1/2yr old wieghed 167 and had very heavy mass...so it does Defy your intentions, but you did say "most".
I did say most dont have mass But that buck is bigger then most
2 1/2 year old bucks. If that buck would have made it to 5 1/2+ then he probably would have been a B&C book buck. I would love for all the
2 1/2 year old bucks that are running around on the ranch to look like that one.
Happy hunting all.
I have no hard feelings, I just wanted to make sure that you know what I was talking about. Nice buck in your picture, did you get him shoulder mounted?
Deerslayer_37:
[/quote]Body size does matter in maturity of a whitetail. There is a diffrence in body size of a 3 1/2 year old buck and a 5 1/2 year old buck. the 5 1/2 has a fuller chest and neck, and weighs more. It's a proven fact.
Of course I know its a proven fact. I spend a large part of my life looking at bucks and aging them by there body. In my first post, I said that body characteristics and tooth wear are the only ways to properly age a deer. There is a huge difference (body wise) between a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/2 year old deer.
MDManiac:
Just to let you know, this 2 1/2yr old wieghed 167 and had very heavy mass...so it does Defy your intentions, but you did say "most".
I did say most dont have mass But that buck is bigger then most
2 1/2 year old bucks. If that buck would have made it to 5 1/2+ then he probably would have been a B&C book buck. I would love for all the
2 1/2 year old bucks that are running around on the ranch to look like that one.
Happy hunting all.
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 590
RE: Mature buck question
Deer vary so much in weight and antler size by region across the country that it's pretty much impossible to set a single standard for what constitutes "big".
For instance, I've killed one 160 lb. dress weight buck here in western MT, so it meets your basic standard. But, it was only 3 1/2 years old and net scored 109, probably not what you had in mind as a "big" buck. Going back over the family's kills over the past few years, we have taken 7 3 1/2 year old bucks (with rifle). The average score is 110 net, range from 102 to 121. Body weights (estimated in most cases) would range from 140-160 lbs. dressed, plus one eastern MT buck I took that dressed approx. 185 (still 3 1/2 years old).
I believe all 7 were taken between 10 and 30 Nov.
For instance, I've killed one 160 lb. dress weight buck here in western MT, so it meets your basic standard. But, it was only 3 1/2 years old and net scored 109, probably not what you had in mind as a "big" buck. Going back over the family's kills over the past few years, we have taken 7 3 1/2 year old bucks (with rifle). The average score is 110 net, range from 102 to 121. Body weights (estimated in most cases) would range from 140-160 lbs. dressed, plus one eastern MT buck I took that dressed approx. 185 (still 3 1/2 years old).
I believe all 7 were taken between 10 and 30 Nov.
#17
RE: Mature buck question
Body size does matter in maturity of a whitetail. There is a diffrence in body size of a 3 1/2 year old buck and a 5 1/2 year old buck. the 5 1/2 has a fuller chest and neck, and weighs more. It's a proven fact.
Here in my neck of the woods i have seen deer at 2.5 dress out at 180 and 3.5 dress out at 150.I think it all has to do with the vegetation and water on how much a deer will weigh come hunting season.
The older deer just look older,a little more grey on there face,the belly is starting to sag.
The big buck contest here last year was won by an 8 pt that was aged at 3.5 years old and dressed at 268 lbs.
#18
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dayton,oh U.S.
Posts: 67
RE: Mature buck question
Of the 4 bigguns I've taken with a bow I had only seen 1 of them before...I watched him along with another big buck all summer...I'm pretty sure I'd passed him up the yr. before also as a 120ish 8 pt. When i took him he was 149 4/8 gross 10 pt. that weighed 165 dressed..also have a 140 4/8" 10pt that weighed 195, a 128" 8 pt that weighed 205, and a 126" 10 point that weighed 175.
#19
RE: Mature buck question
It netted around 182.
I just do not understand how a simple UNSCIENTIFIC thread got hijacked into an arguement
In my neck of the woods a 150 pound buck usually has some impressive head gear. Sure there are excpetions. There are exceptions to nearly everything.
I will refrase my question to those who want to nitpick my question.
How many of the 3 1/2 year old bucks and older that you have taken were spotted prior to harvest?
I just do not understand how a simple UNSCIENTIFIC thread got hijacked into an arguement
In my neck of the woods a 150 pound buck usually has some impressive head gear. Sure there are excpetions. There are exceptions to nearly everything.
I will refrase my question to those who want to nitpick my question.
How many of the 3 1/2 year old bucks and older that you have taken were spotted prior to harvest?
#20
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 638
RE: Mature buck question
buckeyebuckhntr:
Actually most 3 1/2 year old bucks no longer have spots on them, they normally lose there spots after they are several months old.
LOL, now I'm just messing with you.
How many of the 3 1/2 year old bucks and older that you have taken were spotted prior to harvest?
Actually most 3 1/2 year old bucks no longer have spots on them, they normally lose there spots after they are several months old.
LOL, now I'm just messing with you.