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How old and much more will they grow?
- Thread starter JDUB
- Start date
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Only the bottom one is still growing much.
I can't really determine much about the buck's age in the top pic, other than to say am reasonably certain he's 2 1/2 or older. Good chance he could be 3 1/2, but I doubt any older than that.
Can't really see enough about the bottom buck depicted to guess age.
However, the amount of basal antler mass is highly suggestive he's 3 1/2 or older, although he could easily be 2 1/2 or 4 1/2.
Need more pics
The bottom buck is going to have a relatively short-tined rack, as his G-2's are already essentially finished growing. For most areas of TN, he would have an above average width. He'll likely be easily identifiable in the field, wide rack, shorter left G-1, short G-2's, and may have a "crab-claw" configuration with his G-3's.
Assuming they were the same age (likely not), the bottom buck would be the better "trophy" rack to me, simply because I have a greater appreciation of more unique features. Most antlers are going to have longer G-2's than G-3's, but believe this one is going to end up the opposite. Plus, his G-1's don't match up as much as most, just making him a bit more "unique".
I can't really determine much about the buck's age in the top pic, other than to say am reasonably certain he's 2 1/2 or older. Good chance he could be 3 1/2, but I doubt any older than that.
Can't really see enough about the bottom buck depicted to guess age.
However, the amount of basal antler mass is highly suggestive he's 3 1/2 or older, although he could easily be 2 1/2 or 4 1/2.
Need more pics
The bottom buck is going to have a relatively short-tined rack, as his G-2's are already essentially finished growing. For most areas of TN, he would have an above average width. He'll likely be easily identifiable in the field, wide rack, shorter left G-1, short G-2's, and may have a "crab-claw" configuration with his G-3's.
Assuming they were the same age (likely not), the bottom buck would be the better "trophy" rack to me, simply because I have a greater appreciation of more unique features. Most antlers are going to have longer G-2's than G-3's, but believe this one is going to end up the opposite. Plus, his G-1's don't match up as much as most, just making him a bit more "unique".
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
After seeing the additional pics, my best guess on the wide one is he's 3 1/2 or older.
I'm of the opinion the first buck is near done but as for the second he appears as though he could put on 6-10 inches of horn. I have the same thing going on at my place. I have some deer that look done and others that look like they could grow 2-3 more weeks. I have come to the conclusion it depends on if they were a early or late fawn. This year I had bucks that dropped ther horns in Febuary and 3 or 4 still had racks April 1. Good looking bucks , hope you kill one of them.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Birthdate might be more a factor with younger bucks (mainly yearlings), but I believe an individual buck's antler growing timeframe is more related to that individual buck's genetics than his birthdate, as well as to his individual winter food sources and the extent to which he participated in the rut, other stresses, etc.chart1300":ngzyk48k said:
Agree on food and rut.
