Obvious changes begin to take place if a buck lives beyond 3 and a half. Wildlife experts say a buck's skeletal framework is fully developed at 4 and a half, similar to a young man fresh out of college. Its neck and body will be thicker. Given a good growing season, a 4-and-ahalf year old buck can grow a set of antlers many hunters will find hard to resist.
By age 5 and a half, the deer is fully mature and should be wearing its best rack to date. Its legs may begin to appear too short for its body, which could likely exhibit a sagging back and pot belly. During the rut, the buck's neck will appear short and thick, sort of like a weight lifter who spends plenty of time at the lat station. Tarsal glands on the inside of the rear legs will be swollen with urine stains extending all the way to the hoof.
That's all interesting stuff. Still, the main thing that catches eye of most whitetail hunters is the size of the crown a buck is wearing on its head.
When a true whopper walks out, many hunters with a good eye won't take the time to look for a sway in the back, sag in the belly or grey around the eyes. They are more interested in points, mass, symmetry, beam length, tine length and inside spread.
All told, those are the factors that determine the difference between a good buck and a great one for most deer hunters. Here is an explanation of each.
* Points: Points are determined by counting the number of tines or points on the extension rack. The Boone and Crockett Club, the official record keeper for North American big game animals, requires that a point be at least one inch in length before it can be calculated into the official score of the rack.
* Mass: Mass is determined by calulating the thickness or circumference of the antler from the base to the outer reaches of the main beam. B&C scorers take into account several mass measurements when evaluating a extension rack.
* Tine Length: This is the length of the individual points. The longer the points, the more impressive the extensionrack.
* Symmetry: This refers to how similar the rack is from side to side. A near perfect typical rack will have the same number of points with nearly identical tine lengths on both antlers.
* Beam Length: This is the measurement from the base of the antler to the tip of the antler.
Inside Spread: This is the measurement between the widest point of the main beams. Many hunters place a lot of emphasis on the inside spread of a rack, even though "air" accounts for a small percentage of a B&C score.
In some counties, inside spread weighs heavy in harvest regulations. Antler restrictions currently are in effect in 61 counties.The regulation allows hunters to take two bucks, only one of which may have an inside spread of 13 inches or more. The second buck must have at least one unbranched antler.
How do you tell the difference between legal a legal buck and one that is not? Look it over. Closely.
Spikes are fairly easy to pick out. However, determining the difference between a buck with a 12- inch spread and one with a 14-inch spread can be difficult, especially at long distances.
Good binoculars can help. When evaluating deer, compare the antlers to the ears in an alert position. If the distance between the antlers is equal to the distance between the animals' ears, the buck is probably a legal shooter.
If you are unsure, don't take the chance.There is no room for ground shrinkage in borderline cases.
