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One antler wonder!

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Jonnyringo

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I have pics of this deer on one of the farms all the time he always has the same antler. Any ideas how old he is?? I have a fair idea from previous years pics.

 
Really hard to say during the summer months, but the pot belly and other body features are highly suggestive of 5 1/2 or older.

While antlers are generally a poor indicator of age, palmation is mostly seen in mature bucks.

Would also consider this one another representative of Wes's High Grading Theory! :D

How many times are known that he has been "passed" up and let walk by a hunter?
 
Wes Parrish said:
Really hard to say during the summer months, but the pot belly and other body features are highly suggestive of 5 1/2 or older.

While antlers are generally a poor indicator of age, palmation is mostly seen in mature bucks.

Would also consider this one another representative of Wes's High Grading Theory! :D


How many times are known that he has been "passed" up and let walk by a hunter?
Click to expand...


I said 3.5+ to be safe. He really looks to be on the downhill slide. I was really thinking 5.5+. His body really looks to be that of an old buck past his prime but like you said, hard to tell in the summer.

I once killed a big 5pt that looked similar in body to this deer, just not much to him. But he was for sure 5.5+. Pulled the jawbone and teeth were worn below gumline and a couple were gone. Really don't know how old he was. He was rutting when I killed him and was nothing but neck. The rest of the body looked like an old man, just skin and bones.
 
Here he is no antler in exact same spot . Not the greatest pic ! This buck does not leave this farm and I have seen him on multiple occasions hunting but never shot him due to just liking to watch him " no dumb comments please" .

 
Jonnyringo said:
This buck does not leave this farm and I have seen him on multiple occasions hunting but never shot him due to just liking to watch him " no dumb comments please" .
Click to expand...
I've noticed that older bucks often reduce their range. But, "Territory" is highly individualized, and some older bucks actually expand their range.

I relate well to your enjoying just "watching him", but would you care to share why you've never shot him?
 
Mr. Parrish I have no problem sharing why I have not shot this deer. A few years ago I wanted to shoot this deer and was told no not yet by my mentor . That same year my mentor died and I didn't really have anybody to teach me anything about mature bucks habits or how to hunt them etc you kinda get my drift. Ever since then for whatever reason that buck has lived on one of my farms and I have used him as a learning aid / teacher . That's not to say that if a chance is presented this year I won't take it since this deer is going downhill.
 
I would love to know BSK' s thoughts on this buck and maybe if he had seen any old mature deer pick a spot and stay in it for some if any reasons
 
Does he grow just a left antler every year? Does the antler turn to bone and shed velvet?
 
When he was younger he had a decent size nub on his right side . Now he just has a nub . He always sheds on time with the other bucks into hard antler. Another note is that while the other bigger " higher octane" bucks have there own group on this farm this buck the past few years has always paired up with a young buck 1 .5 or so and they keep to themselves
 
I would suggest this buck receive some sort of fairly serious injury to the head--something that would either crack the skull or damage the skull plate around the pedicles. The "nub" antler is most probably an indication of a serious injury to that pedicle, while the palmated antler suggest less injury to that side of the head. But I see this type of future antler development from bucks who were clipped by a car, often knocking off or breaking their current antlers. The blow is enough to break bone around the pedicles, producing bizarre future antler development.
 
Thanks BSK for your response I enjoy reading your post. Would a buck that has had traumatic experience like that pick a spot with the right habitat and set up shop to go into I guess " survival mode " ? How old would guess that buck is ?
 
I don't think his small range is due to his injury, just his personality. Every deer is different. Some won't want to leave 60 acres, and some regularly range through tens of thousands of acres.

He's an old buck for sure.
 

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