Chuta!

[Ski]

I was worried about this season as I hadn't seen the fall shift yet but last couple days it's like a switch was flipped and bucks are showing up. Got one I'm interested in that I've been watching grow up for several years and this year he looks good.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Very nice deer. Hope you get a shot at him.

 

[swampbadger]

No doubter! hope you get a pic holding him!

 

[BSK]

That's a good mature buck Ski!

 

[Ski]

That's a good mature buck Ski!

Just the way i like them

No idea if he'll show up in daylight for me but we'll see. I've never seen him on the hoof even though he's been a regular since he was a 2yr old 8pt. Amazing how they can be so present yet completely unseen.

 

[TN Larry]

Great buck. TN or OH?

 

[Ski]

Great buck. TN or OH?

Ohio. Not seeing much in TN yet this season.

 

[TN Larry]

Ohio. Not seeing much in TN yet this season.

Great buck either way. DId the deer that you let walk last year that broke a beam show up yet this year?

 

[Ski]

Great buck either way. DId the deer that you let walk last year that broke a beam show up yet this year?

Not yet, unfortunately. I get a couple every year that reach 5.5yrs old but almost never see a 6.5yr+. In hindsight I probably should have shot him because I knew the chance of him living another year would be almost zero.

Ironically I say that and this year I actually have a 6yr old showing up. I think that's still too young for decline but his rack sure shrank from previous years. Now he looks like a 2yr old rack on a mature body. In video his movements are super slow and stiff, and he walks like an old cowboy who spent too much time in the saddle lol.

I think i enjoy watching the life cycle of these bucks maybe more than hunting them.

 

[tree_ghost]

It's getting exciting! Good luck on that stud Ski! I agree that the switch has flipped. There were 4 new bucks in the last 48 hours at my place one of which is fully mature.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

That's a great buck!

 

[DoubleRidge]

Heck yeah! Great buck!

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Gotta love them old bucks

 

[ULTRAMAG25]

Nice un!

 

[Ski]

Great buck either way. DId the deer that you let walk last year that broke a beam show up yet this year?

Showed up this morning before daylight. Weird left antler. He is 6.5yrs this year. Amazed he's alive and still healthy looking.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Showed up this morning before daylight. Weird left antler. He is 6.5yrs this year. Amazed he's alive and still healthy looking.

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GREAT deer!

 

[DoubleRidge]

Showed up this morning before daylight. Weird left antler. He is 6.5yrs this year. Amazed he's alive and still healthy looking.

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Great buck! Cool history! And not to derail conversation but this buck is a prime example of possibly "under aging" ....you have history and know hes 6.5 year old....but if you posted a pic, especially with antlers covered, and asked for age guesses....I'd say very few, if any would say 5.5 or 6.5....some would say 4.5....and you may even get a guess or two at 3.5 with tapered belly and thinner hind end...in many cases I believe we under age deer....Ok....back on topic....awesome buck!

 

[Ski]

Great buck! Cool history! And not to derail conversation but this buck is a prime example of possibly "under aging" ....you have history and know hes 6.5 year old....but if you posted a pic, especially with antlers covered, and asked for age guesses....I'd say very few, if any would say 5.5 or 6.5....some would say 4.5....and you may even get a guess or two at 3.5 with tapered belly and thinner hind end...in many cases I believe we under age deer....Ok....back on topic....awesome buck!

I'd guess you're exactly right. He's a shell of what he was last year in his prime, body wise. His rack is still big but his body is waning. I've been watching him since he was a small 2yr old.

 

[PossumSlayer]

Antlers on a mule!