Same deer? Herd mgt. and mature bucks |
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By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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You may have seen a few of my posts in the past pertaining to managing our 600 acre farm in central illinois in regards to mature bucks. I believe this to be the same buck but i would like input and reassurance that it is; as is he should be a 6 year old buck and one we would like to kill this fall; if not, then he gets a pass (should the opportunity arise).
This buck surfaced as a 2 year old in 2011 as a main frame 8 with a split G2 on his right side (which he has carried his whole life). I can't locate any pictures but the one pictured here is from 2012 of the same deer and i have his shed from the right side. He was a pretty nice buck in 2013 with what i considered good genetics (high tines and plenty of them). The last pictures i had of him were in December 2013; i never found his sheds that year and in 2014 i had no evidence of him still living on the farm.
This year a buck surfaced that i believe is the same buck; same split G2 on the right side and a split G2 on the left (he had a split G3 on the left in 2012 and 2013).
Thoughts? Same buck? If its him, which i believe it is, he will be 6.5 this fall.
2012 picture.
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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Found a picture from 2011 (2 year old in my opinion). Opening post is 2012
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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2013
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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another 2013 picture (last photo of him prior to 2015)
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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2015
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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2015
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:28-Sep-15
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2015
By:
XMan
Date:28-Sep-15
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certainly looks like the same deer to me and has the right age on him to be that deer.
By:
HerdManager
Date:28-Sep-15
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I think same genetics, but different (younger) deer. Maybe it's the same deer and he maxed out early, but he should have put on 40" in two years and it actually looks like he is smaller now. I vote descendant of your original buck.
By:
REID HASH
Date:28-Sep-15
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I vote similar genetics different deer. A better body picture would make me feel better about my vote.
By:
R. Hale
Date:29-Sep-15
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Need better broadside body pic. Last pic has clues to age and he appears younger than in the past. Likely different buck.
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:29-Sep-15
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Thanks guys, his body certainly looks like a 3 year old to me but that G3 on the right side screams that its the same buck. I appreciate the input; more opinions wanted! I'll post any new pics i get.
By:
Jon Simoneau
Date:29-Sep-15
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I think it's likely the same deer.
By:
willliamtell
Date:29-Sep-15
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Agree the split G3 is unusual enough that it strongly leans towards having the same genetics. To bad we can't get them to pose the same way year after year. Maybe put your cam on 2 or 3 shot burst to up your chances of getting apples-apples views. That 2015 night shot doesn't pick up on his forward left split beam - probably just the camera angle.
By:
35-Acre
Date:30-Sep-15
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Need to see the body. Too much can happen with antlers (in my opinion) to have that be the only determining factor on aging a deer (which I think is what you're asking in order to have a closer guess as to whether or not it's the same deer).
As stated above, a good broadside picture would help on aging. Looking at hips, belly/back line, legs, brisket and face. Those characteristic help determine age.
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:30-Sep-15
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35-acre: Thanks, i agree in that its tough to (actually almost impossible) to come close to aging a deer UNLESS you have prior history which is what i'm trying to determine here. I actually have that every poster in my basement, lol. IMO its either the same buck (and 6) or a younger buck with similar antlers (and probably 3-4 simply based on antlers). Hopefully i'll have more pics soon. Thanks
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:05-Oct-15
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newest pictures (with side, body profile).
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:05-Oct-15
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By:
35-Acre
Date:05-Oct-15
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I'm thinking this one is 2-3 years old. Long legs, flat back, a little sag in the stomach. Keeping in mind this is end of September and no rut activity (swollen neck or stained hocks). Looks like a good gene pool! Congrats.
By:
bumpinblaze4x4
Date:06-Oct-15
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Thanks. Looking at other bucks on the property and just using body size/structure in regards to age, i think he is a three year old, maybe 4 (max) but i dont see anyway he is the same buck based on body size.
By:
Wapitidung
Date:06-Oct-15
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So where do you find the Deer Age Poster?
Wap
By:
Wapitidung
Date:06-Oct-15
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Found it. Bought it.
Wap