Dozer Story

[Jackalope]

Freaking awesome man! Congrats and thanks for sharing the story with us. You can see the excitement in the pics.

 

[at1010]

Thanks guys! I am still jacked. I should have his cementum annuli teeth aging results in a week or so. I cannot wait for that and to finally close this chapter - on maybe the oldest whitetail I’ll ever kill.

can’t wait to fire up a saw keep working on the farm - to hopefully make it better next year!

 

[Big H]

Great Buck, and a good recap to the hunt! Congratulations!

 

[at1010]

Final Chapter - 7.5 years old.

if I only had one word to use to describe whitetail deer’s profound impact on me - it would be “life”.

I have poured a great part of my life into learning and respecting these animals.

I’ve managed the habitat to give life back to the once degraded and mis-managed soils and timber.

I’ve used the animals we’ve harvested as source of sustenance for our human lives.

When it comes to deer and specifically managing the farm - it’s easy to just get caught up in antler size. As time goes on and we harvest older and better quality deer- we realize how impactful we are on the landscape.

Dozer made it to 7.5 years old. That is old for a whitetail in Ohio. That deer survived cars, disease, hunting, coyotes, and more.

No matter how good of a hunter one thinks he’s or she is, luck plays a big part, and that is not lost on me. For me to have been in the right place, at the right time, when this old buck made one fatal mistake - maybe his only in almost a decade of life- is extremely humbling.

So I’ll say - I’m beyond thankful for harvesting an old and fully mature buck. This might be the oldest buck I ever harvest.

The life the whitetail deer has given to me is one of respect, passion and perseverance. It has been the foundation for my passion for all things wildlife.

For that I will forever be thankful to be able to manage the greatest (imo) animal on God’s green earth, in the greatest country in the world.

Dozer - thanks for 7.5 years!!

 

[steveOh]

Congrats on a great old buck.

 

[at1010]

Dozer is home! The opportunity to manage and chase deer like this is never lost on me.

I am so fortunate to have a great farm and permission farms to hunt. Great family and friends to share it with and a wife who supports my insane passion for whitetails.

Also - a lot of luck goes into it as well.

Bucks ages from left to right:
5.5 years old
7.5 years old
5.5 years old

The age on this wall alone humbles me beyond measure.

Let’s find one for 2025!! Stay safe and enjoy the outdoors!

 

[giles]

I think the age structure and antler size is a great example of what real trophies of ohio look like. People have fallen into this makeup of "let them go, let them grow" while passing on these great trophies waiting on that unicorn. Not every deer can break 150" with age. So much more has to go into a deer to reach that potential. It's great to follow along with your threads as they never have anything about antler inches. All thanks and praise toward the opportunity and the animal. Big breath of fresh air in this game. Thanks again and congratulations again. Wall looks great!

 

[at1010]

I think the age structure and antler size is a great example of what real trophies of ohio look like. People have fallen into this makeup of "let them go, let them grow" while passing on these great trophies waiting on that unicorn. Not every deer can break 150" with age. So much more has to go into a deer to reach that potential. It's great to follow along with your threads as they never have anything about antler inches. All thanks and praise toward the opportunity and the animal. Big breath of fresh air in this game. Thanks again and congratulations again. Wall looks great!

Thank you for the kind words - I don’t think I deserve as much credit as you’ve give but I appreciate it greatly.

I have only scored one deer (I was in a silly contest my buddy signed me up for). I am not against score but I much prefer age, ps it was 118inch 4.5 year old (he’s in the other wall).

In all honesty if we wanted to truly measure antlers - I think a water displacement would be the best way to give credit to the full size of the rack vs. certain characteristics that benefit some and hurt others.

I am more than happy to continue to shoot 4+ year olds in the rib cage - regardless of 120 or 160inch frame and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to do so and to manage my own dirt!

 

[giles]

Keeping it humble is also a great quality