LAST EDITED ON May-28-16 AT 02:53PM (MST)[p]I know that most people and also biologists believe that a big mature deer that only have 3 on one side, need to be taken out of the heard if you want to try and manage for trophy quality. I was just wondering how many people out there might have a story or experience that goes against this thinking.
Here is mine. I watched a buck for three years and the first year I seen him I knew right away that he was an older buck. that year he had a nice four point frame on his left with a small kicker. Right side 3 point with about a 5" drop off the G-2. He was close to 30" wide and I figured about a 185" buck. The next year same frame on both sides this time 3 small kickers on his left, he lost the drop on the right but now had 2 kickers in its place. Still around that magical 30" mark and I figured very close to 190". The third and final year he grew the the G-3 on the right side making him a 4x4 main frame! Also had the 2 small kickers out the right and now had a real nice inline on the left with a small kicker off of that! He ended up just over 32" wide and 199 3/8". He had almost no teeth and I figure must have been at least an 8 year old deer.
Anyone else with similar stories? He was for sure an example of age being more important to the amount of bone on his head over genetics.
Now of course if you get the age along with genetics that is the perfect storm, but how many management bucks are taken that might some day break the 200" mark???
Here is mine. I watched a buck for three years and the first year I seen him I knew right away that he was an older buck. that year he had a nice four point frame on his left with a small kicker. Right side 3 point with about a 5" drop off the G-2. He was close to 30" wide and I figured about a 185" buck. The next year same frame on both sides this time 3 small kickers on his left, he lost the drop on the right but now had 2 kickers in its place. Still around that magical 30" mark and I figured very close to 190". The third and final year he grew the the G-3 on the right side making him a 4x4 main frame! Also had the 2 small kickers out the right and now had a real nice inline on the left with a small kicker off of that! He ended up just over 32" wide and 199 3/8". He had almost no teeth and I figure must have been at least an 8 year old deer.
Anyone else with similar stories? He was for sure an example of age being more important to the amount of bone on his head over genetics.
Now of course if you get the age along with genetics that is the perfect storm, but how many management bucks are taken that might some day break the 200" mark???