How much body weight and size will a whitetail lose in it's final years of life? Equally important question goes for its rack........I've had one around my house for years now and Im wondering if im going to actually see one come close to live out its life cycle....I have to confirm my thoughts, gather old pictures, and go over information with neighbors that also know this deer. Wondering if anyone has had experience seeing a buck year to year go downhill in age....thanks for any input.
Questions about old age buck....end of their lives.
- Thread starter md1
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Typically I’ve read and experienced a buck deers rack will max out its biggest and best rack at 6 years of age give or take a year considering overall health. Lack or nutrition and injuries can negatively effect the size and structure of their antlers as well. After 6-7 years of age they tend to continue to gain mass in beams and overall antler structure but tend to degenerate in total inches although there are exceptions to the rule. Just my take after hunting and reading over 4 decades of literature and time in the field.
As for body size and weight I’ve not read or thought much on the subject cuz they rarely live much beyond 6 years of age. I have read there is a point if they do live longer they eat less due to tooth wear or loss and pretty much like elderly humans lose weight and body mass.
As for body size and weight I’ve not read or thought much on the subject cuz they rarely live much beyond 6 years of age. I have read there is a point if they do live longer they eat less due to tooth wear or loss and pretty much like elderly humans lose weight and body mass.
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Knelly
Junior Member
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I have one buck that has to be close to the end of his life cycle. The year this farm was purchased was in 2019 and at the time I thought the deer to be 3 yrs old. Each year he has been on camera and has never made one of those growth jumps. We have a pile of sheds from him over the years and I am 99% certain this deer is approaching that 9-10 yr old mark.
2019
2025
2019
2025
99.9 percent of them dont make it past 4 years old in most huntable areas in my opinion.
Thanks for the replys. Seems very few get past 3.5 here. The buck I've watched has been declining a few years now.
. He may have reached mid 140s in his prime. last years photo heat of rut. This was his third year and most considerable rack decline. Big fat bases and a little junky, but only a basket rack remaining on top. I still need to get with neighbors go over photos for this year. I'm glad I missed him in his prime, was busted twice on separate years and the neighbors missing twice last year, and how many other arrows and bullets hes dodged in his life. I don't really ever want to watch or hunt a deer year after year again.
He wasn't on the downhill I think he was at his max...he was killed two miles away during gun season (he took a crossbow bolt to the shoulder during rut a mile and a half away but recovered). We are wondering if he was an ehd survivor or wounded the previous year to have such an antler decline pictured above last season. Either way I hope to never see or encounter a whitetail year after year again. He had completely moved his home the last two seasons with my new leasing neighbors invading his area all the time. Only coming around during rut. I saw him once this season but not on my property. Smart bastard busted me several times and I believe dodged my bullet a few seasons ago. I am glad it's over.
I had one deer that made me absolutely crazy. Once I got over him I was really able.to enjoy hunting again. Good luck
Two quick stories about this deer that I'll remember forever. Two seasons ago during rut I was watching with binoculars from my rooftop scanning the neighborhood. This deer appeared on the edge of the neighbors woods just before dark. All I could see was his chest and head. He stood scanning the picked bean field in front of him. He stood forever, a ups truck came down the road over 400yrds away driving 55mph. As soon as the truck was visible from his view he bolted back into the woods. He came back to the same spot. As darkness fell I watched him bolt running to get across the road into the next section never checking anything just trying to get where he wanted as fast as he could get there just being a ghost. Second story. This year he was again halling ass alone trying to get hidden. I found out my neighbor to the south of me bumped him bow hunting I was driving down the road saw him across an open field. I turned my truck around in a neighbors driveway, as soon as I did this, this buck bolted almost a half mile off the road he knew i was following him. I wanted a pic from my phone. He ran across the section up closer to the next road. I was there on a bridge watching him. This deer would not let me keep eyes on him. He zigged and zagged across a wooded 25yrd ditch leading up to the road. I'd back up he'd cross I'd go forward he'd cross back running my direction the whole time. I had no chance in getting the picture as he crossed 120yrds behind me. He was obviously wise living in deer drive country for this long. I did watch this deer while I was laying down in a cornfield at 40yrds, I was going mushroom hunting the first day of bow season not carrying a bow. I saw a tree being riddled as I got closer to the neighbors woods before it was leased, he walked out fed in the beans on a windy night. I only learned how smart they can become trying not to be around humans.