6 1/2+ year-old bucks

[BSK]

Although most hunters--especially trophyists--won't believe it, in some habitat and terrain, even without poaching or over-harvest of young bucks, 6 1/2+ year-old bucks are EXCEPTIONALLY rare. Because of difficult life conditions (poorer habitat and rough terrain) old bucks simply don't survive rut stress once they reach a certain age. BGG and I have talked about this at great length, and he agrees with that assessment. In certain habitat, even when plenty of mature bucks are present, 6 1/2+ year-old bucks almost never show up in the harvest data--and these areas are virtually impossible to poach due to habitat and terrain.

So when I do get a trail-cam picture of a 6 1/2+ year-old buck, it's truly a wonder.

One from this year:




One from last year:






From a couple of years ago (and we knew this guys age because we had been watching him for 4 years):

[Deerbuster]

I've killed 1 buck over 6 1/2. And I was my 1st buck.his teeth where just about dead even with his jaw bone.

[BSK]

I've been deer hunting for over 35 years, and hunting managed property for over 20 years, and I've killed a grand total of 1 buck 6 1/2+. Not much in the antler department, but check out the neck on this stud buck:

[Tennessee Lead]

Those are true Monarchs!



Sent from the barrel of a model 70 at 3300 fps

[huntinkev]

That necks huge.

[WG Taxidermist]

Man what some bucks! I only killed 1 also but it was in Illinois.

Sent from somewhere in the sticks using Tapatalk

[huntinkev]

I imagine it gets harder to pinpoint age after a certain point. When you say 6 1/2+, are you confident it's closer to 6 1/2 or what are the probabilities that it could be say closer to 9 1/2?

I remember seeing someone post that Cades cove buck that said 9 1/2. I would think it would be difficult for a buck to live that long outside of the national park, or would that even matter.

[MUP]

That is really something for sure! I can only say I've killed 2, maybe 3 that were possibly 4-1/2. Saw 1 that might have been older than 4-1/2 years ago while hunting. Awesome to see and know that they are that old BSK!

[BSK]

I imagine it gets harder to pinpoint age after a certain point. When you say 6 1/2+, are you confident it's closer to 6 1/2 or what are the probabilities that it could be say closer to 9 1/2?

I remember seeing someone post that Cades cove buck that said 9 1/2. I would think it would be difficult for a buck to live that long outside of the national park, or would that even matter.

I should have just said 6 1/2, as I don't believe any of these bucks are older than that.

I do believe the key factor in age limitation is local environment (habitat and terrain). Even though agricultural habitat is much easier to poach, I do see bucks that are clearly 7 1/2, 8 1/2, and even 9 1/2 in flat, heavily agricultural areas. But in rugged 95% hardwoods, I can probably count on one hand the number of bucks over 6 1/2 I've seen on trail-camera or in the harvest. The conditions cause very high mortality of bucks after 5 1/2.

[BSK]

That is really something for sure! I can only say I've killed 2, maybe 3 that were possibly 4-1/2. Saw 1 that might have been older than 4-1/2 years ago while hunting. Awesome to see and know that they are that old BSK!

On my family's place, over 20 years of management, I think we've killed 7 or 8 bucks that were 4 1/2, but only two bucks that were 5 1/2, and only one buck 6 1/2. Although we are by no means practicing Trophy Management. Our buck harvest rule is simply "no yearlings"--except for new hunters. So the vast majority of what we kill is the easiest older buck to kill--2 1/2 year-olds. Last time I checked, we have killed about 60 bucks 2 1/2 or older over our 20 years of management, which means we're only averaging about 3 per year.

[Lost Lake]

Wow. That's a treat to see bucks of that age class. Truly a different looking animal!!

[AllOutdoors]

Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing. Got a pic of this guy a few years ago. I feel like he is old but have no history with him.