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Wheeler Buck

nyantler

By nyantler,
in Deer Hunting

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WNY Bowhunter Experienced

WNY Bowhunter

Posted
Posted

Nice article. 

There's no way that this buck was only 2.5 years old.  Last years shed scores 58 5/8 with an additional 2" or so of the mainbeam broken off.  So lets say it scored 60 inches...60 x 2 + 16 (est. inside spread) = 136 gross.  Ain't no way a free ranging NY deer is gonna score that as a yearling.  He was at least 3.5 and more likely 4.5 years old...

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troutman Newbie

troutman

Posted
Posted

Great story .

There's no way that this buck was only 2.5 years old.  Last years shed scores 58 5/8 with an additional 2" or so of the mainbeam broken off.  So lets say it scored 60 inches...60 x 2 + 16 (est. inside spread) = 136 gross.  Ain't no way a free ranging NY deer is gonna score that as a yearling.  He was at least 3.5 and more likely 4.5 years old...

I have to agree, not impossible in captivity but in the wild?  While tooth aging is a good indicator, not every deer is going to have the same wear on its teeth based on diet. A deer predominately browsing on buds, twigs and acorns is going to have much more wear than one with a diet of softer leafy vegetation etc.  Also a buck on a good dental program may have stronger teeth that don't wear as much... ;D

Anyone know what the deer weighed.  This is another indicator that might help get an idea of age.  I think most 1.5 yr old bucks dress out at 100-120lbs, 2,5 yr olds 130-150lbs,  3.5 yr olds. 160-180 lbs. and it usually takes a 4.5 to 5.5 yr old to break 200 lbs.  Once again this can vary depending on diet and range....

Others thought on the age of this deer?  I have to admit that is the one thing that bothered me about the story.  Hate to be a doubting Thomas....

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WNY Bowhunter Experienced

WNY Bowhunter

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Posted

I would say 4.5 maybe even 3.5 the bases do not look huge. No way he is 2.5 and those sheds from last year 1.5!! A weight and more pics of the whole deer would help.

His bases were not very big compared to the rest of the rack.  The first mass measurement between the burr and G1 was only 4 inches.  The same measurement on the shed was 3 4/8".

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WNY Bowhunter Experienced

WNY Bowhunter

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Here are three sheds for comparison. The one from the buck in this thread scored 58 5/8" with a 19 1/8" mainbeam (the tip was broken off). The other two are from a yearling buck and a 2.5 year old buck from the same area.

Is it possible that this deer was only 2.5 last year, making him a gigantic 3.5 year old this year? It seems impossible to me, I'm thinking that he was more likely a 4.5 year old deer.

There was a ton of standing corn all through the winter on this property so the deer had access to it through the worst of the weather. There's a big alfalfa field across the road that was cut and "freshened" 5 or 6 times this summer and last year's cornfields were put into soybeans this spring. Beans have never been planted here before that I know of. He was eating well so I guess that this could explain some of the huge jump in antler size that he had...

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