Was real excited to see this guy in 2018. Young with good characteristics. From memory, he started off at my secondary and then moved to Klappenbach's secondary early in the season and a mile away. The next year, 2019, he somewhat blossomed to a main frame ten with small mule deer kickers on each G-2. Frankly, we were hoping for something better. In 2020, he regressed somewhat with number of points down to a clean main frame 9, but his frame did get stronger. In 2021, he was almost a mirror image to 2020, but his he threw a kicker on his right G-2 and his frame was slightly larger. I think his inside spread had to be 21-22 inches and he was quite impressive to look at.

It's hard to tell year to year sometimes. Have put the following together and who knows if it is truly even the same deer. We had him as a strong 3 year old back in 18, but he could have been 4. I think any way you look at it and if he makes it, likely to be 7 or 8 this coming season. Fingers are crossed. Photos to follow are from Fall of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Do not pay attention to the 2020 photo date. Something to wonky there.

Sure looks to be the same deer and if not, one that is very, very similar in both age and antler characteristics.

Stud for sure!!!!

Very nice

Damm nice buck, looks like he's 7 too me, hopefully he'll come on more this coming year, they can sure do it at 8. Regardless, the way you guys are managing your deer in my opinion is great. If you have the genetics, and feed I still think age is the most important.

Dang he looks older in 2012 than he did in 2019 He will be at least 8 this year.

This guy lost a lot of body weight over the season. He is a "tool". I am thinking he doesn't get where we would like him to be as he is so very aggressive during the rut and has a hard time making up for what he puts his body through.

You have to ask yourself "do I like him now"? If he is on the fence, then "will he be better next year". Based off of these pics and his current age, he is nice but does he have want you want genetically to keep him and give him another year to improve? Four things can happen from this point on - #1 he can get bigger #2 he can stay the same #3 he can get go downhill #4 he can die. Age is not in his favor this point after a great rainfall year. Today is the first day of the next drought. Remember those words.

We have always liked what we refer to be his "carriage". The overall set up of his rack - mass, tine length, beam length and etc . . . Most of us, not all, attempt to manage from the bottom up and prefer not to harvest trophy management bucks. From time to time, the opportunities afforded to SIL's can be an exception here, but they have been more than happy to shoot as so instructed. This year in my pasture, I was allotted three mgt tags and all were filled with animals inferior to this one. I can now take extra, but would still cull out in the same manner. It's really hard now as body weights have been run down and most everything is broken up, making previously targeted specimens harder to ID. In addition, daytime deer movement is nowhere near as aggressive now as it was just a couple of weeks ago. I am prepared for and expecting a let down on this guy, but shooting every buck at their best is not the goal. Overall pasture herd health and beauty is highly coveted here. When this guy walks out, he gets your attention. Want more like him, not less like him.

Some time ago we had an 8 at three years old that we thought could really be something. Over the following three seasons, he never progressed past an eight. With limited tag resources, there was always something needing to be shot more than him. Let Prudhomme come to one of my blinds looking for a mgt deer. That 8 walked out and was immediately done fer. Klappenbach and I showed up at the site of the downed animal with Prudhomme's first comments being, "Why did you let this deer get so old? I am going to mount him." Not only did he mount him, he won two local big 8 contests and got a jacket from Buck Fever.

I love seeing pics over several years. Thanks for putting it together. Great deer and without looking real real hard he seems like same deer. You can get spoiled being on a place where a buck like that may or may not be big enough for you.

Hud, what did the old 8 score?

Many years ago now....30 or so yrs ago....I was under the belief that any buck could turn into something nice given enough age and improved nutrition. I learned that it was not true. Two words: Dominant Suppression. What I learned was that even though bucks can be pretty and nice to look at every hunt that they won't turn into the buck you wanting doing any breeder. When we started to remove those older dominant bucks things changed with the rest of the bucks. Bucks that were nice to really decent bucks at younger ages or even middle to early mature ages started to improve. Those older very mature bucks we were letting go were dominate and because of the stress they created around those other bucks they were suppressing their growth. Removing the " dominate bully" allowed other bucks to get first chance at feed or rut standing. By removing the lower end of all bucks and does, the herd will improve.

Sounds like Hud needs to that one.

I get it. Obie is spot on no doubt. At least I didn't lose anything. We get one trophy in excess of 150 and that's it. Not our rule that we set up, just the wish of the LO which is always adhered to. Where would this one fall? He has either exceeded 150 or been right there for three years now. The most logical thing would have been to shoot him after egressing from a ten with two kickers to a slick nine. "Someone" wiser and w/more experience than myself once told me some bucks will have an occasional down and you should not always cull them out as they just may spring back stronger the next year. Seems I rcall something about a certain 9 point that just blew up the next year (ahem). I could not shoot him this year as I had already been fortunate with the double drop and there ain't no way no how I was gonna take a chance with this guy being over 150 and then having harvested two over 150. Yes, it is a hole in our mgt plan and just something we get to deal with.

The big 8 Prudhomme shot was a classic low 140's 8 point.

Always listening, always trying to improve and loving every minute of it,

Hud

He can always "prove me wrong" by waiting another year....but... .....there is that 75% chance he won't do what he expects him to do.....

25%. That's better odds than spotted pig could muster.

Just don't invite those who hate all hogs and......."cull" bucks or his odds go to zero...zilch...nada....adios....sausage...or at least answer an inquiring text about said "spotted hog" so the same "adios" does not happen twice

This guy made it through also. He would have been higher up on my want to get outta the pasture list. At least he is in good shape at the end of the season. Never saw him with a doe.

I heard that buck had a affection for a certain spotted hog....he goes on walkabouts looking for his friend Spot.

I think they may well be related. the deer just didn't inherit the spots.

Looks like that one lives at the feed trough.

Still looking for his buddy -

This big fella has been living at the feed trough and that has been welcomed. It's there so he can utilize what is being provided. Got eight photos of him right at the cottonseed over 28 minutes the other night. I am somewhat concerned about the appearance of his coat there. It has been very ruffled and not smooth. Hoping it is part of getting rid of winter coat and not alluding to being hurt or sick.

Looks like it might be a good time to go hunt his sheds.

nice buck for sure

Beautiful deer without a doubt.

I don't think there is anything wrong with him Hud. He looks plenty healthy. I think he was just ruffed up a bit in that one pic because just a couple days later he looks better already.