sampotter

Buck #1. Mainframe 10 point with a broken brow tine and a kicker on the right base.

So, we've all been having fun guessing the score and age of live deer on the hoof, but unless someone gets their hands on the deer there's no way to know how close anyone came. This thread is for anyone to post their bucks that have been officially aged and scored for a record book (ok, maybe we can bend the rules a little to allow self-measured bucks if the poster is confident they are doing it correctly). Post picture(s) of your buck(s), give the buck a sequential number, and then let everyone guess at the score and age. After 5 days, post up the actual measurements, score, and age. The focus is primarily on gross score but include net if you want to. Get as elaborate as you want with your score estimate (g1, g2, etc...). When revealing the actual age please label what method was used, i.e. tooth wear, cementum annuli. Have some fun- I think we all can benefit. P.S. I'm sure a lot of the bucks that will be posted have been on HNY before so don't cheat! P.P.S For the moderators: Is there a way to go back edit the post with the buck's picture after 5 days so that the age and score can be included on the original post so that after awhile this looks like a reference guide more or less?

It could be that it was poked out this fall?

Exactly, 1st and 4th pics. The non-glow is a dead giveaway. His left eye has a glow in all 3 pictures that it is in.

I give him a couple more inches on the beams and mass than nyantler, coming to 130+/-. Phade and Moog beat me to the eye comment. Mature buck though.

Sam McGee was Tennessee where the cotton blooms and blows...

Also if your field aging training videos were produced by Drury Outdoors or the like you may have a skewed perspective.

Ok- I'm finally looking at these pictures on a computer for the 1st time instead of my phone. I am still confident that this deer is 4+. Specific features like a saggy belly, loose skin, etc, can be used as an indication but every deer is different. I look at this boy and I know I would shoot him believing him to have reached 4 years of age and at least 90% of his antler potential. With his ears back the next best point of reference is the distance between the burrs, which is usually about 2.5”. Also- I never go by net score- I know this is what most of the “books” use but I personally think the ideal of the “perfect typical” shortchanges the magnitude of a lot of bucks and really doesn’t tell the whole story. Anyhow, after further review I downgrade my (gross) score from 155+ to low 150s. Here is what I have: G1s: 7 G2s: 16.5 G3s: 21 G4s: 12 MBs: 46 Mass: 32 Spread: 17

Thanks timesly!

Don't let my sled tracks discourage you Wooly!

Firstlight- his face and neck just have that fully mature look. Reminds me of a 5 year old bull. Fletch- he's a big, wide 10. A deer like that is almost automatically over 140. All of his tines are above average in length for there position (g1, g2...) That's how he gets into the 150s for me.

That deer is the real deal. He is at least 4 but it wouldn't surprise me if he is 5 or 6. 155+ all day. That buck would keep me awake at night.

Nice work!

As easy as it looks in the picture. It is in a no hunting zone though which is probably why a buck could feel comfortable there. Funny how close to people deer will live if they never get shot at...

Here's some pictures to go with my wanderings so far... A pretty nice suburban buck bed: I don’t think this boy likes his tags: Nice rub on the edge of an apartment complex lawn: Another nice suburban rub: A deadhead button buck: An old hobo campsite: A nice suburban pinch point: This sight made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I spied the blue tarp and instantly thought of all the Meth Lab stories I’ve heard. I carefully circled it looking for footprints in the snow; there were none so I moved in for a closer look. It was hard to tell what exactly the spot was used for. Probably just some kids messing around. Rock “sniper’s nest” overlooking the blue tarp spot. There were several of these. I don’t know how someone got this sign into this spot. It was almost 20’ long! I would have taken more pictures but it was raining all day so I didn’t want to get my camera out too often.

Wowsa! You took that?

That sucks. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted if you find out any more details...

Ha- someone was safe anyhow! I'm not sure I'm going back there- so much garbage...

Well, with all the reports of bucks shedding early, I've been out a couple of times, as much scouting for wintering areas as shed hunting I guess. Yesterday I went on an urban shed hunt. I saw a bunch of deer (no bucks) and some pretty impressive rubs. I also managed to find a matched set - of used condoms. Hmmm- the things you find in the woods. I left them there for someone else to find. I also found and old hobo campsite complete with burned canned food cans and tent stakes in the ground. It looked like it hadn't been visited in 20+ years.

I just don't think those velvet antlers are ever going to fall off. Keep at it Wooly- more miles : more opportunity!

I don't think you'll ever find those ones sheds Wooly.

I did a search and found numerous threads on Doug's Message Board. It turns out that at least in the Savage with smokeless powder the high PSI causes the copper jacket to slough off, but many people say the FPBs shoot really well with blackpowder substitutes. Good news for you Viszlas but not for me. I'm glad I did a search before I got too excited.

I looking to try them in my Savage smokeless. I just need to remember to take the time when it is warmer out to pull her out of the closet and spend some serious shooting time. I don't shoot any guns as often as I used to before I picked up the bow though...

Nope- but I was looking at them yesterday and am interested to hear how you make out! Is there a risk that they won't stay put after loading?

What the heck? That thing was really moving! Looked like it would have been easier to hit than a running deer as it didn't really move its chest up and down a lot- all the motion was in the legs.