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bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
#5238097
08/06/14 02:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
curious as to what age you guys see free range bucks start to lose body mass. does it generally go hand in hand with the antlers? or before? or after?
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5238112
08/06/14 02:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
IMO it really depends on the area and the habitat. I think if they are larger bodied to start with in the area it is not a much of a "loss" so to speak as compared to bucks that are smaller bodied in other areas. To me a 5 yr old and 7 old buck look very similar in body shape if they are in good shape. To me starting at 7 they start to loose muscle mass on the hindquarter area first. From 8 on they start to show changes that are more noticeable IME. I have seen bucks that were 8+ not look much bigger or different than a 4 yr old deer body shape and size wise. Then I have seen a very old buck that had no teeth left on a ranch that had body weight of a 1.5 yr old buck.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5238536
08/06/14 06:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
At 7 mine start changing shape wise but don't always lose pounds. The 8+ my boy killed last year was starting to break down in the hips and looked old but was within 20lbs of a 5.5 killed by the neighbor.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5238761
08/06/14 08:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947
JMalin
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 947 |
I agree with 8 being the first noticeable downhill year in body condition.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5239067
08/06/14 10:47 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,842
WTGuide
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,842 |
A lot of it depends on genetics.
Think you can/Think you can't/Either way you're right
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: WTGuide]
#5239091
08/06/14 10:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
I've never seen my 7 year olds drop any weight.
Of course, my deer are all high fenced... so it would be "unethical" for me to include them in any data set..
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: stxranchman]
#5239131
08/06/14 11:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,057
Kenneth1977
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,057 |
IMO it really depends on the area and the habitat. I think if they are larger bodied to start with in the area it is not a much of a "loss" so to speak as compared to bucks that are smaller bodied in other areas. To me a 5 yr old and 7 old buck look very similar in body shape if they are in good shape. To me starting at 7 they start to loose muscle mass on the hindquarter area first. From 8 on they start to show changes that are more noticeable IME. I have seen bucks that were 8+ not look much bigger or different than a 4 yr old deer body shape and size wise. Then I have seen a very old buck that had no teeth left on a ranch that had body weight of a 1.5 yr old buck. I agree with this for the most part but the thing to remember is most bucks in low fence area are only going to be at the most 5 or 6 if they are lucky because of so many hunters .
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: therancher]
#5239317
08/07/14 01:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
I've never seen my 7 year olds drop any weight.
Of course, my deer are all high fenced... so it would be "unethical" for me to include them in any data set.. The fence has nothing to do with it other than the fact that most HF deer are probably protein fed and I don't hunt behind a high one. Just curious about the deer that I hunt.
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: Kenneth1977]
#5239322
08/07/14 01:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
IMO it really depends on the area and the habitat. I think if they are larger bodied to start with in the area it is not a much of a "loss" so to speak as compared to bucks that are smaller bodied in other areas. To me a 5 yr old and 7 old buck look very similar in body shape if they are in good shape. To me starting at 7 they start to loose muscle mass on the hindquarter area first. From 8 on they start to show changes that are more noticeable IME. I have seen bucks that were 8+ not look much bigger or different than a 4 yr old deer body shape and size wise. Then I have seen a very old buck that had no teeth left on a ranch that had body weight of a 1.5 yr old buck. I agree with this for the most part but the thing to remember is most bucks in low fence area are only going to be at the most 5 or 6 if they are lucky because of so many hunters . And this is dependent upon where you are. Both my places are LF and I would argue both have, or have had within the last 2 or 3 years, multiple 6+yo bucks, none of which were killed. And these are small places, one is 45 acres and the other is 100.
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5239328
08/07/14 01:09 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294 |
There are more 6+ out there than most would think.
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Re: bucks...what age do they start losing body mass?
[Re: jshouse]
#5239329
08/07/14 01:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
I've never seen my 7 year olds drop any weight.
Of course, my deer are all high fenced... so it would be "unethical" for me to include them in any data set.. The fence has nothing to do with it other than the fact that most HF deer are probably protein fed and I don't hunt behind a high one. Just curious about the deer that I hunt. Actually, I require that my low fence hunters protein feed as well. Most low fence ranches I know the hunters protein feed. Just good management practice. You're right though, the fence has nothing to do with it. Just jacking around. But, as proof of my statement, I will have pics soon of 8,9 and 10+ year old deer that are fat as pigs.
Last edited by therancher; 08/07/14 01:11 AM.
Crotchety old bastidge
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