The Aging Of Deer: From Buttons To Booners

[justforkicks]

I came across this and thought i would share.

http://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting...tons-to-booner

[edmhunter]

That was awesome, thanks for posting. Kinda sad to him him in the last picture. At least he lived a full life and no doubt had lots of girl friends in his prime.

[Battle Rat]

Very interesting how he would gain and loose tines each year.
Thanks for sharing.

[Venginator]

Thanks for sharing!

[Mickey]

Fantastic pics. Thanks for sharing.

[owlhoot]

That was informative, Thanks

[58thecat]

Simply great, the whitetail buck is a beautiful animal.

[killerbren]

Pretty cool, but I would say the 4.5 and 11.5 year old pics are definately not the same deer as the rest of the series.

[P-Pyro]

Thanks for posting. Great photography and a super thread. Can never tire of looking at whitetails

[quadrunner]

Just remember every deer is different. I seen 1.5 year olds have a very small 5 pt rack.

[arrow dog]

Thanks for posting the article. Really interesting to see the progression from yearling to senior buck. Great photos.

[huntinalberta]

Originally Posted by killerbren

Pretty cool, but I would say the 4.5 and 11.5 year old pics are definately not the same deer as the rest of the series.

Cool but not sure how he knows it's the same deer.

[waterninja]

What an amassing set of pics. and story. I'm not sure how the phtographer knew it was the deer but what dedication. I kind of felt sorry for that beautifull buck as he started declining the last couple years.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by huntinalberta

Cool but not sure how he knows it's the same deer.

The deer was on a game farm, so I'm pretty sure they were ale to keep close tabs on all their stock.
I've seen pictures of young deer with big racks and old deer that were fork horns.
Cat

[edmhunter]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

The deer was on a game farm, so I'm pretty sure they were ale to keep close tabs on all their stock.
I've seen pictures of young deer with big racks and old deer that were fork horns.
Cat

No doubt about that Cat. It's the only reason why he lived so long!

[Hunter1602]

Great read

[buckscrape]

Thanks for the link. I thought it was going to be more about what clues to look for as a deer gets older, but ended up being the story how that particular buck aged...cool story.

Originally Posted by huntinalberta

Cool but not sure how he knows it's the same deer.

Small things like the white and black markings, the way his hair is curled in between the antler bases, the slant of his eyes, etc.
I raise Angus cattle, they may all look the same at first but if you study their individual features you will see differences.
And I don't think it was on a game farm, unless pic #10 isn't the property line.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by buckscrape

Thanks for the link. I thought it was going to be more about what clues to look for as a deer gets older, but ended up being the story how that particular buck aged...cool story.



Small things like the white and black markings, the way his hair is curled in between the antler bases, the slant of his eyes, etc.
I raise Angus cattle, they may all look the same at first but if you study their individual features you will see differences.
And I don't think it was on a game farm, unless pic #10 isn't the property line.

It actually mentions in the text ( or maybe the comments)that it was a game farm.
Cat

[buckscrape]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

It actually mentions in the text ( or maybe the comments)that it was a game farm.
Cat

I think the term was "wilderness estate" on which 30-40 deer stayed.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by buckscrape

I think the term was "wilderness estate" on which 30-40 deer stayed.

I's from the author's farm, I may ave misread it and took it for a game farm.
Not that it matter much, ask a breeder to go get the 2 month old lab yo picked out and i bet h can, coloured ribbon or not!!
Cat

[edmhunter]

Originally Posted by buckscrape

I think the term was "wilderness estate" on which 30-40 deer stayed.

The only difference between a game farm and a wilderness estate, is that on an estate farm the deer are invited over to the mansion for a glass of Merlot at 5:00 PM

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by edmhunter

The only difference between a game farm and a wilderness estate, is that on an estate farm the deer are invited over to the mansion for a glass of Merlot at 5:00 PM

I suspect the buck was more of a bourbon drinker

[edmhunter]

Amen my brother from another mother, can't beat Kentucky's finest!

[buckscrape]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

I suspect the buck was more of a bourbon drinker

Maybe that's why he lived so long.

[edmhunter]

I can picture him hanging back by the bedding area with the does sipping at that Tennessee Sipping Whiskey as he laughed at the men shivering in the tree stand, adjusting their cameras for Realtree TV! hehe

[B.Balon]

cool post thanks.

[MOAhunter]

Thanks for the awesome link! This definitely proves what I've long believed.
Furthermore, I firmly believe that the buck that was followed and pictured is very representative of average WT genetics. Any areas that commonly get deer larger than this have above average genetics. Seems countless times on AO when somebody posts a mature buck a handful of posters suggest he would be so much bigger in a year or two. Guess what? Not all deer have the potential to go beyond 150-170"(gross).

[ThreeD]

Originally Posted by killerbren

Pretty cool, but I would say the 4.5 and 11.5 year old pics are definately not the same deer as the rest of the series.

Charles Aslheimer is a long time, undisputed champion of whitetails, contributor of various magazines, and his world class wildlife photography on his woodlot/property is legendary. If he documents a "Bucks Life" on camera, rest assured its the real deal.

Alsheimers farm has NO fences. He is a TRUE supporter of WT deer in the US and Canada

[grinr]

Originally Posted by Battle Rat

Very interesting how he would gain and loose tines each year.
Thanks for sharing.

X2,I was a bit surprised with how his basic frame went up and down and up again over the years....pretty cool.
I'll second 3D's comments re:Charles A.....if he says it's the same deer ,it's the same deer.Alsheimer easily makes the top 10 who's who list of the most respected WT authorities in NA.

[killerbren]

Originally Posted by ThreeD

Charles Aslheimer is a long time, undisputed champion of whitetails, contributor of various magazines, and his world class wildlife photography on his woodlot/property is legendary. If he documents a "Bucks Life" on camera, rest assured its the real deal.

Alsheimers farm has NO fences. He is a TRUE supporter of WT deer in the US and Canada

Alright, well then I stand corrected! cool article