Dirt2

I'm putting this thread up just sort of FYI. It's an opinion piece based on three years of shed hunting where I've picked up 60 whitetail sheds. My brother and I have also killed three bucks in this same area. The real surprise is how far the antler growth diverges from my conceptions as recently as three years ago. The area is in NW Montana, in an area where deer depend on big woods browse and the odd logging cut for forage. No crops within 10 miles.

Bucks at 3 1/2 years old typically gross score 100-120 inches;
Bucks at 4 1/2 years oldtypically gross score110-140 inches;
Bucks at 5 1/2 years and up typically go 120-160 inches; until they begin to decline again with age. Some old bucks drop back below 100 inches.

I believe the average 6 1/2 year old buck here might gross about 140. In other words, B&C class bucks are extremely rare, even with good age structure.

I would love to here fromthose of youwith comparable or greater experience on this topic. How does this compare to your area?