Mule deer antler growth year to year?

pinkfly · 11-02-2007, 03:00 AM

I watched this buck for a while near the end of the season and decided to let him live for another year (hopefuly) and try to find him again next year when he is a little bigger. I spent some time sizing him up and am guessing that he is around 26 wide outside give or take an inch. My question is does any one know a general rule on how much a muley's antlers grow from year to year? I am sure it is different for each buck, but would I be reaching to think that he might be 30 next year?

huntercgr · 11-02-2007, 04:56 AM

Anything can happen. But I'd think going to 30" next year would be reaching. But, with that said, there are so many variables that come into play.

Genetics, spring/summer conditions, winter conditions, available minerals/nutrients, staying injury free. And I'm sure others could add more. It's a little hard to etimate his age there, but I'd guess around 4 years. If he is, he still has a few years to get bigger if the right conditions allow for it.

A very nice buck though, that had to be a hard decision to pass him up.

pinkfly · 11-02-2007, 05:27 AM

I think you are on the money with the age estimate. I have a buck on the wall from the same area that I shot a few years ago that looks like his twin brother and he was 4 years old. It was a hard decision to make but I sure would like to see him get bigger. If he made it through the last day of the season this year I would find it hard to beleive he will make through next year.

Jeremy · 11-02-2007, 06:00 AM

Something out there makes them regress in size too, we shot a monster forked horn a couple years ago that was pushing 30" and was 5 years old, either he was a fork his whole life or he dropped back down from something else for some reason. If you ever make it to the Oregon zoo or maybe they have something similar in your neck of the woods. They have an elk there that they have had for 10+ years. They have all of his sheds up on the wall year by year at the viewing area. He is a monster but some years are better than others for whatever reason and the size of the sheds goes up and down a lot, not just a get bigger and add a point every year thing? Dont know if the same holds true for deer or not???

baltz526 · 11-02-2007, 06:30 AM

he should peak in antler size at between 6 and 9 years of age with good range conditions. if he is 4 now in 3 years he could be a monster or nearly the same as he is now with heavier bases

Limbhanger · 11-02-2007, 07:15 AM

He may not have the genetics to ever reach 30. A very small percentage of bucks will go 30 inches. Mule Deer guru David Long mentions that even with book class mule deer only a small percentage are 30" or wider. Dont get too hung up on width, if he has mass and nice long tines he's a dandy at 26".

toas243 · 11-02-2007, 08:29 AM

I can solve this ,you tell where he is and I will take some of the stress out of your life ,this way you will never have to worry if he grows or not

umpkin:

pinkfly · 11-02-2007, 05:42 PM

I do understand that width is not every thing, but I was hoping that by letting him live another year I might get a shot at a buck that had a couple more inches on the spread combined with a bit more mass and deeper forks. I would much rather take a deep forked buck with a lot of mass than a 30 inch buck with little mass. I guess all I can really do is hope the he made it passed the 31st, try to find him again next year and hope that he has grown a little thicker and wider. I don't see to many bucks of this class when the season is open and I am carrying a tag. This is the first time I have passed on a buck that was this size so I think I was also looking for some consolation that in letting him go this year I might be increasing my chances at a nicer one next year. So, I guess I need to just be content with the fact that I could have shot a nice deer this year and see what hapens next year. Time to focus on the steelhead now.

llama77 · 11-02-2007, 09:03 PM

Pinkfly,
Congrats on having the "stuff" to pass on thi sbuck. Hes pretty nice.

While its possible for bucks to "digress" . A 5 year old fork thats 30 inch was probably always a fork. I have a 28 inch fork from the Steens. Where there are lots of big forks and 3X3 and 3X4. A result of 12 years of 4 point only. To deny that genetics plays a role in antler shape seems a little odd. Genetics is responsible for everything else, why not antler shape?

As I recall the elk at the zoos rack was almost Identical in number of points and configuration every year, it just got bigger with age.

Genetics and nutrition will determine how big he gets next year. Could be 30, could be less, could be more. Let us know when you shoot him!!!