I went down yesterday to check my cams and scout for turkeys. I was surprised to see a buck I call "crabclaw" still holding his set. This will be one of the deer I will have my eyes on this summer. He could fall into my hitlist category if he puts on some more inches this summer. Right I would estimate him in the low 120's, but that's a guess on looking at camera photos. He's got great width, he's all ready outside the ears, but he is lacking in mass.
rgecko23
*Supporting Member*
Wow! I caught a glimpse of a deer this morning running out of my backyard and I swear I saw a rack. Either that or another deer was in front and I saw a flash of the lead deer's tail. Not sure, but I swear it was bone.
That buck's got some good potential! Last year, the day before turkey season opened, I was sitting out in the woods listening for gobbles, and a small 6 pt with both sides still on walked right out in front of me. It was April 16 or 17th or something like that. Definitely the latest I've seen one holding on.
I remember hearing that if there are does that are still cycling through estrus it causes the bucks to maintain a higher testosterone level therefore keeping the bone on longer.
huntn2
Senior Member
I saw a basket 8 with both sides last week on my drive to work. Shocked me to the point I stopped to watch he and a doe he was with for a min.
Tree Monkey
Member
I have witnessed a buck still carrying in may....I had heard a guy shot him during archery season but it wasn't fatal. I figured that would of made him drop earlier but he held them longer.
Antlered does? Yearlings born late in the year? If yearlings, I would love to see them at 2-4yrs old. haha Those are pretty nice deer!