Mature Bucks, Small Racks

[bones09]

Same Buck

[bones09]

Had pics of this buck for years, relation got him in '10. Here's a pic from '07 and '10. I doubt he ever had a 130" rack

[bones09]

Here's another that died in '10. He scored 157" and was 6 years old i think. Here's a pic from '07 and '10.

[john1984]

Took this from an old book I have.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[TallTines]

Bucks are like that up in turtle lake Wisconsin all small racks

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[bucksnbows]

Took this from an old book I have.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

That book is incorrect. Spikes are usually the result of late born fawns. But yes genetics will play a role in antler size. Most is due to age and nutrition.
The largest increase in size is usually 1.5 to 2.5 average 30" increase 2.5-3.5 average 20" increase. 3.5-4.5 10" increase 4.5-5.5 7" increase after that on average very little if any.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[bucksnbows]

Hunt the top 10% of the bucks in the area and let the others walk......

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[iowa whitetail]

Took this from an old book I have.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

That book is incorrect. Spikes are usually the result of late born fawns. But yes genetics will play a role in antler size. Most is due to age and nutrition.
The largest increase in size is usually 1.5 to 2.5 average 30" increase 2.5-3.5 average 20" increase. 3.5-4.5 10" increase 4.5-5.5 7" increase after that on average very little if any.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I'm confused so the average deer is 70 inches?

[ Post made via Android ]

[Bigburner]

I killed this buck 3 yrs ago he was 5 yro. He dressed out at 205 lbs in the end of sept. He had nothing for antlers Maybe 100", no brows but his body was huge.
Sure wasn't going to let him walk at 8 yards. Non-the less he just didn't have the genetic programing to match the typical deer around here. Most deer around me at his age, due to great food sources and great habitat are easily going to exceed the 140" mark and probabley are going to be pushing 160".

His skull was twice the size of the all the other deer I had killed in 25+ years of bow hunting. Just a massive noggin.

[vanceg]

7.5 years old, scored 127 and weighed a whopping 139 pounds.

[vanceg]

5.5 years old just under 110 inches before the antlers popped off after I shot him.

[vanceg]

6.5 years old 189 pounds. Scored 122 inches.

[bucksnbows]

Took this from an old book I have.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

That book is incorrect. Spikes are usually the result of late born fawns. But yes genetics will play a role in antler size. Most is due to age and nutrition.
The largest increase in size is usually 1.5 to 2.5 average 30" increase 2.5-3.5 average 20" increase. 3.5-4.5 10" increase 4.5-5.5 7" increase after that on average very little if any.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I'm confused so the average deer is 70 inches?

[ Post made via Android ]

No. Those were average amounts of increased inches of antler from one age class to the ng next.

[ Post made via Android ]

[SneakyHunter]

5.5 years old just under 110 inches before the antlers popped off after I shot him.

Is the date correct on the photo? Every year I hear of local bucks being killed in rifle season (early December) that have already shed. Which lab do you use for Cementum aging?

[vanceg]

Date is correct. That was the last couple days of muzzleloader season. That was the last mature buck I saw that week with both sides. I had seen some with no antlers and a few with one side. I use Wildlife Analytical Labs in Texas to do my tooth aging.