Terry

Congrats, he would make an awesome European mount!

I am wrong, you can apply

I am digging his split brows, very nice!

Keep in mind I am no professional. Regardless of age he is a great buck and one to be very proud of. Age, score, weight, all just add to it. The story makes the trophy.

I wouldn't move your stand until the day you plan on hunting in it. The element of surprise is very valuable when it comes to a buck that might not deal with any pressure.

The rubs I have seen that I am confident came from mature buck due to patterning the buck then killing him, usually approach about 4 foot off the ground at the highest part of the main rub mark. There still sometimes is nick marks higher than that.

How high off the ground is it?

After looking at the info and tools I have for tooth aging for another thread, I am saying he's possibly 3-1/2...

I took a look at the information and tools I have to age deer by their teeth. He looks 4-1/2 to me. Doesn't have enough wear for 5 IMHO.

I am impressed you have his skull cleaned already, that's a lot of work! I would agree with your age estimate, he's definitely a mature buck.

Nice buck, congrats!

If you didn't apply for a DMP by October 1st, I don't think your eligible for the bonus permits available in November. I could be wrong though.

2-1/2

Wild deer and captive deer still interact, touching noses through a fence is one way. CWD was first found in a captive mule deer herd in the 60's. There is speculation that it may have been around in wild herd for years before that, but there is no proof. It is believed that it may have been derived from "scrapie". A similar disease that affects sheep that has been around for hundreds of years. Back in the day, sheep were allowed to free range. Or someone who farmed mule deer also farmed sheep and they interacted. Reading on how disease usually stems from poor farming practices, it makes sense that it originated on a farm. Of course people from both sides will point fingers, but I like to use my own judgement.

The whole it's profitable argument doesn't sit well with me. Anytime there is money to be made it leads to corruption on both sides of the fence. Just because these hunts sell out doesn't make it right. It just tells me that more and more people don't want to work for what they want, which we already know because we see it in all other aspects of life. If your making money off of it, then good for you, but that's a poor argument for ethics. Keeping animals in a fence has been creating problems for years, its not natural and goes against mother nature. Disease is her way of fixing problems, so it only makes sense to me that the more we fence in animals the more disease we will see.

Does that work the same way as siphoning gas?

I feel that hunting animals that are not free range is not hunting. I also think breeding deer for large racks is cheating. The whole system to me is based on people spending money to compensate for a lack of skill or work ethic. But, these are just my opinions.

Here comes the government conspiracies and this will be the end of fair chase hunting lectures...

There is a guy who lives not far from me. He is a known jerk and constantly trespasses and pretty much does what he wants including shooting several buck a season some years. He lost his license for two years for his second offense of not reporting his kill. I wonder if that's just what the DEC could collect enough evidence on to nail him with and the judge gave him the worst punishment he could. Then again maybe that was the reason he just gave people and the real offense was worse.

Wow, what a giant!

Great idea!

I want to puke when people ask "did you catch a deer"

I have only had two interactions with wardens. Both on state property, and both times they were easy to deal with. The last time the guy talked guns with me for 15 minutes up to Happy Valley WMA.

I know how you feel Rick, it sucks. At least you have some fresh venison to get you by.

Before it was legal to use rifles, I used lightfields. They definitely hit like a ton of bricks!