I am sure this is a nomadic buck and never captured on camera during the day. I may never see him again but he looks quite mature. I'll still be looking for him all season here in SWMO!

How old do you think he is? Any ideas why the far side antler is so unusual? This is the only photo I have of him. His neck looks pretty impressive too.

No expert here but, thinking 4 plus (3 on the low side) years in age. The antlers could be genetics or more likely damage during the growth of the antler.

Antler deformation can also be due to an injury to the body, especially the leg. He is standing a little funny?

quote:

What do you think?

I think you should turn him into steaks and burgers as soon as you can.

It looks to me like he has some sort of funky drop tine on that near antler or maybe even a 3rd antler growing from the base of the main antler. I had a friend once in VA take a buck with 3 antlers and the mount is pretty cool!

Looks older than 4. Look at how he sags. I think the antler deformation is due to injury. The back legs just do not look right.

My thoughts are that he's older than 4.5
and would be a great challenge for the season.
Good Luck Ann
Lots of neat "stickers" coming off his bases.

My first thoughts were 6-1/2 but really need more shots... in the dark. Belly is showing some white belly hair coming up the side from a slight beer gut. Sign of age. Big neck and thick brisket also. Maybe older.
Re. Horns sometimes an injury while in velvet causes that. Could also be a genetic thing thrown in there.

I would shoot him but then I never been known to be picky.

I peg him at 4.7.He was obviously born early in spring.I am thinking his rack is like that because his left testicle did not fully descend.

I pulled the camera cards yesterday and there are no new photos of him. Firearms season starts on the 15th. I will be waiting if he decides to visit again.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
Looks older than 4. Look at how he sags. I think the antler deformation is due to injury. The back legs just do not look right.

I was hunting elk in Colorado about 10 years ago and the rancher shot a bull elk with a gimpy left rear leg that had a deformed right antler. The elk had been shot in the hip the season before and his left rear quarter was wasted away. The left antler was a perfect 5 point but the right antler was a 3' long club with four 6" long spikes sticking out of it.