Comments on: Stages of Antler Development in White-tailed Deer http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/ Deer Hunting and Habitat Management Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:41:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Buck Manager http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/comment-page-1/#comment-2737 Buck Manager Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:49:30 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/#comment-2737 Mark, the best way is to use the bucks's ears as a guide. In Texas, 1.5 to 3.5 year old bucks, when their ears are in the alert position, have ear tip to ear tip spreads of about 13 inches. Mature bucks at 5.5 to 6.5 years old have tip to tip spreads of about 15 inches. Since there are well over 30 subspecies of whitetail in North America, you will have to ask local hunters or taxidermist for good averages for your area. And keep in mind that tip to tip spread increases slowly with age. Mark, the best way is to use the bucks’s ears as a guide. In Texas, 1.5 to 3.5 year old bucks, when their ears are in the alert position, have ear tip to ear tip spreads of about 13 inches. Mature bucks at 5.5 to 6.5 years old have tip to tip spreads of about 15 inches.

Since there are well over 30 subspecies of whitetail in North America, you will have to ask local hunters or taxidermist for good averages for your area. And keep in mind that tip to tip spread increases slowly with age.

]]> By: Mark http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/comment-page-1/#comment-2736 Mark Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:22:47 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/#comment-2736 How do you estimate the width of whitetail deer antlers by a picture? How do you estimate the width of whitetail deer antlers by a picture?

]]> By: Buck Manager http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/comment-page-1/#comment-2640 Buck Manager Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:39:53 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/#comment-2640 Alan, it depends on the age of the buck. A yearling buck (which is 1 1/2 years old and should not be confused with a fawn) with 4 points WILL probably be a 6, 7, or 8 point buck the next year (2 1/2). However, a buck with 4 points at age 3 1/2 or older likely has poor genes for antler growth and will likely NOT get any better. Alan, it depends on the age of the buck. A yearling buck (which is 1 1/2 years old and should not be confused with a fawn) with 4 points WILL probably be a 6, 7, or 8 point buck the next year (2 1/2). However, a buck with 4 points at age 3 1/2 or older likely has poor genes for antler growth and will likely NOT get any better.

]]> By: Alan L. Farner http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/comment-page-1/#comment-2639 Alan L. Farner Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:55:59 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/#comment-2639 If a buck has 4 points one year will it have like 5 or 6 points the following year? If a buck has 4 points one year will it have like 5 or 6 points the following year?

]]> By: Jack Morgan http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Jack Morgan Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:34:40 +0000 http://www.buckmanager.com/2008/05/20/stages-of-antler-development-in-white-tailed-deer/#comment-1639 I have an 8 point whitetail that has been coming in to my feeders for about 3 years. The buck is easily identified by a split right ear. This year he has not shed his antlers and about two weeks ago I noticed two additional points on his right antler, including a drop tine. I have never seen or heard of this happening. Can anyone enlighten me? I have pictures on file of him over the past two years if anyone is interested. I have an 8 point whitetail that has been coming in to my feeders for about 3 years. The buck is easily identified by a split right ear. This year he has not shed his antlers and about two weeks ago I noticed two additional points on his right antler, including a drop tine. I have never seen or heard of this happening. Can anyone enlighten me? I have pictures on file of him over the past two years if anyone is interested.

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