Hello everyone!

I am a new poster and have been bowhunting central illinois where I live for a number of years. The past few nights I have been doing some scouting at my main spot and took some picture with a my zoom digital camera. One night last week I was amazed to see these two bucks and a number of does right under one of my stands. Could you guys give me some pointers on judging a deers antler size in comparison to other body parts,(head, ears, nose etc. These pictures were taken from about 500 yards so they are not the greatest. If it would have been one week later I would have had a shot at these two big boys. I am hoping that they hold this pattern for another 4 days till opener. Wish me luck and good luck to all bowhunters this fall.








Edited by - cillinoisbowman on 09/27/2002 16:36:48

I only see one of the pictures the bottom one and I would say that it is about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old the reason I say that is if you look at his back it is not arched up it is level a younger bucks back will actually arch up and the older they get the more it will sag

good luck and God bless

Fixed the pictures, had an & sign in file names.

Those are some dandy bucks! Good luck

cillinoisbowman, it is hard to tell from that distance, but on your bottom picture, the buck walking away looks to be pretty stout! I am going to try to post some pics of illinois bucks. This is the first time I ever tried it, so it may not work!http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...igCountry.html
That only gave the link. I am gonna try it once more.


NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

Edited by - Big Country on 09/27/2002 22:09:24

I think I got it this time! Before everyone goes nuts, I did NOT kill the big buck at the bottom! Those are some mounted sheds from Pike Co., Illinois that I bought. Those sheds with a 21 1/2" inside spread score 190 2/8" gross.


NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

Edited by - Rob/PA Bowyer on 09/28/2002 09:52:04

Thanks for the help guys.

Here are a couple pictures of deer taken with my bow the last few of years.

Looks like they are some mature bucks, good luck this season!
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Very nice, by looking at the side shot it looks like a pope and young citiation for either deer and that is right at 125 for a white-tail, now get that bad boy. Good luck, Bobby

Those all seem to be very impressive bucks.

A couple things to look for as to determining how large of a deer you are looking at from that distance.

check the antler width with by looking at the ears. If they are as wide as the ears...it's likely to be 18" I believe.

use the tip of the nose as a visual as well....the beams on a mature buck will come out about the same length as the nose is.

I look for tip to tip spread as well. If you're looking at a deer who is as wide as his ears...and his antler tips are only inches apart in the front...his beams are probably all of 26".


Nevertheless, the bucks in your pictures are definately awesome deer, and I don't think I'd hesitate on either of them.