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Sway Backs and Potbellys
#7411007
01/21/19 11:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
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An earlier thread got me to thinking.
Over the years, I've found the subject to be confusing when trying to field-judge white-tailed deer. Particularly very old bucks. While both indicators can be additive when aging deer, what may/not disqualify them is stance and time of year. There are far more reliable characteristics in a super-mature buck's body.
Loose skin from the back of jawline to brisket that swings when walking, a noticeably broad area between the nose and eyes, a deer that appears to be all head, neck and shoulders. Hatchet arse. Like us, really old deer don't have enough butt left to hold up their jeans. The body of what appears to be a 2-3 yr old at first glance. They may or may not be very uniformly dark from their hocks to the back of their back hooves.
We'll post a couple photos and videos to help illustrate.
Last edited by fouzman; 01/21/19 11:11 PM.
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: fouzman]
#7411041
01/21/19 11:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
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First 4 photos are of a 6 or 7 yr old buck from early October to a couple weeks ago. Second photo is an 8 year old buck. He dead. Last photo is a 3 yr old. Sorry, can't get the videos to load.
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: fouzman]
#7411059
01/21/19 11:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
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Again, note the knees on the 8 yr old vs the 6-7 yr old. My theory is the old deer quit chasing all but the easiest while the stud has blown out his right knee.
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: fouzman]
#7411063
01/21/19 11:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
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Interesting. How much thought do you put into a buck that has zero staining on the hocks as far as post mature?
No staining on the legs at all during the rut means he's past mature and not chasing any longer?
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: titan2232]
#7411068
01/21/19 11:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
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Interesting. No staining on the legs at all during the rut means he's past mature and not chasing any longer? NO SIR. Could be immature, could be Old and could be a puzzy. It's but one of many signs to help age a buck. Very few are absolute.
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: fouzman]
#7412019
01/22/19 10:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,652
Pitchfork Predator
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Great info thanks for sharing.
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Re: Sway Backs and Potbellys
[Re: fouzman]
#7413077
01/23/19 10:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,589
Brandon Adamcik
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Running an old folks home down there.
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