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Should I be excited about this guy?

Depends on how you like to hunt!? Some people would kill that buck right now!! It's hard to tell right now but he could be 100-110" by the time he is done!! I personally would let him walk but that's just me!! Good luck with him!!
 
Thanks for the info. The truth is I haven't put cams out this early before so to see him with this little grown its hard for me to tell how he will turn out. I like to only take 125-130 or larger bucks so we will see what he can do.
 
BSK said:
Depends on what excites you and what your goals are.
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Yep
kevlarwiz said:
I like to only take 125-130 or larger bucks so we will see what he can do.
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That being the case, this one will not be even close to that. I'd speculate he ends up scoring less than 100, although if he's only 2 1/2, may be above average for his age class. Probably going to end up with about a 15 to 16" outside spread (but very little mass).
 
kevlarwiz said:
Thanks for the info. The truth is I haven't put cams out this early before so to see him with this little grown its hard for me to tell how he will turn out. I like to only take 125-130 or larger bucks so we will see what he can do.
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He won't make that. As Wes said, maybe 100.
 
Just from that one pic, there is little to go by, but mainly based on the lack of mass, I would SPECULATE this buck is only 2 1/2 yrs old. IF that is the case, you might be amazed at what he becomes in another year or two, very likely meeting your 125 minimum or more. A 100-class 2 1/2 can easily become a 125-130-class 3 1/2.
 
Wes Parrish said:
Just from that one pic, there is little to go by, but mainly based on the lack of mass, I would SPECULATE this buck is only 2 1/2 yrs old. IF that is the case, you might be amazed at what he becomes in another year or two, very likely meeting your 125 minimum or more. A 100-class 2 1/2 can easily become a 125-130-class 3 1/2.
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X 2
 
W.Seay said:
Wes Parrish said:
Just from that one pic, there is little to go by, but mainly based on the lack of mass, I would SPECULATE this buck is only 2 1/2 yrs old. IF that is the case, you might be amazed at what he becomes in another year or two, very likely meeting your 125 minimum or more. A 100-class 2 1/2 can easily become a 125-130-class 3 1/2.
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X 2
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Agreed.
 
catman529 said:
Guessing he will have short tines. But if he looked to be 3.5 or older I'd shoot him.
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I think it's still a bit early in his development to ascertain tine length (other than his brows). Brows appear more in the range of average-to-above (for a 2 1/2-yr-old) than short.

At this point all I would speculate much on are width and mass.

Moving beyond the speculation, I will say that whatever he ends up this year, and assuming he is a 2 1/2, he will probably "score" 25% to 50% greater as a 3 1/2.
 
Wes Parrish said:
catman529 said:
Guessing he will have short tines. But if he looked to be 3.5 or older I'd shoot him.
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I think it's still a bit early in his development to ascertain tine length (other than his brows). Brows appear more in the range of average-to-above (for a 2 1/2-yr-old) than short.

At this point all I would speculate much on are width and mass.
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you would think with his main beams that wide and the brow tines fully developed, there would be more tine length.
 
One of the issues I'm seeing is that the above average 2 1/2's are the ones with the most potential to grow into what most would call "monster" bucks, yet they are the very 2 1/2's most hunters have the greatest challenge in letting walk. Meanwhile, those below average 2 1/2's are given multiple passes by multiple hunters, and end up composing more of the "older" buck population.

Hypothetical Examples:

Buck 1 scores about 75" as a 2 1/2-yr-old typical 6-point.
A growing number of hunters eagerly let this one walk.
Buck 1 survives to 3 1/2, and becomes a "nice" 101" 8-pointer.
But again, many hunters are using a personal standard of say 120" in defining a buck they consider a "shooter". So he survives to 4 1/2.
Buck 1 scores 120" as a 4 1/2-yr-old typical 8-pointer.
Let's say he survives again to 5 1/2.
Buck 1 scores about 130" as a 5 1/2-yr-old typical 8-pointer.

[size]Buck 2[/size] scores about 110" as a 2 1/2-yr-old typical 8-point.
Still having a somewhat relatively small "adolescent" body frame, his antlers may "appear" larger (may "look" more like a 120).
Many hunters who are trying to use 120 or so in defining their minimum "shooter" buck, they don't let this genetically superior antlered buck walk (and are often disappointed with the major "ground shrinkage").

But "what if" Buck 2 were allowed to survive to maturity?

Should Buck 2 survive to 3 1/2, he likely becomes a "nice" 135-inch 10-pointer.
Say he survives to 4 1/2.
Buck 2 likely scores 145-plus as a 4 1/2-yr-old typical 10-pointer.
Let's say he survives again to 5 1/2.
Buck 2 LIKELY SCORES OVER 150" as a 5 1/2-yr-old typical 10-pointer.

If our stated goal is harvesting older bucks with larger antlers, might that be better achieved with a focus on just passing up all young bucks, particularly those best-antlered 2 1/2's?

In other words, focus more on age than antlers, and avoid taking ANY bucks younger than 4 1/2?

As a side benefit, you will seldom experience "ground shrinkage" when you focus on harvesting only 4 1/2 or older bucks. In fact, you often experience just the opposite, i.e. the antlers are larger than you expected (since the buck is larger-bodied making his antlers "appear" smaller).
 
catman529 said:
. . . . you would think with his main beams that wide and the brow tines fully developed, there would be more tine length.
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Antlers fully develop closest to the head first, meaning you can first get a good idea of basal circumference (about an inch above the hairline).

Not saying this particular buck isn't going to end up with short tines. Just saying I have little to go on at this point.
 
2 more months and you will have a clearer idea, but if 125+ is your goal one more year atleast wont hurt
 

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