Rack Growth Over the Years
 

I posted this awhile back .... lots of new guys here, and it fits in with the MATURE BUCK theme going on .... enjoy!


Here's the article .....



"These shots are all of the same buck, that's what makes them so unique and rare.

I made a promise to the caretaker of this private property that I wouldn't disclose the location where these shots were done so I can only tell you they are from the upper midwest.

After photographing this buck I became addicted to capturing him on film every fall. This area is one of the most difficult places to make good shots because it is all wooded and the overhead canopy keeps it dark until the leaves fall. Even then it is dark because the oak trees hold their leaves so late into the winter.

Compound this problem was the fact that this deer was almost totally nocturnal. He only came out during the daylight during the rut. It made for a nearly impossible task to get him on film.

He became my first "obsessesion deer." I spent all my savings just to purchase fast-enough lenses, sturdy-enough tripods, and the best silent cameras. For eight years I spent every fall, during the rut, trying to get usable images of him. I spent so much time at it that my career suffered; business-wise my time would have been spent much more wisely photographing more productive areas.

But it was a grueling, satisfying journey. This buck taught me a tremendous amount about whitetail behavior, physiology, biology and social dynamics, so much that in seven seasons I gained a lifetime of knowledge from him.

He's my favorite whitetail subject ever, not just for his tremendous antlers but for his brutishly "boss" look. He only had to throw a glance at other bucks to make them back down. He's probably the largest-bodied whitetail I've ever seen. If I've ever seen a 400-pound whitetail, he was it!

I only ever saw his rut personality because that was the only time I could ever observe him; I never got a picture of him when he wasn't either with a doe or chasing does. His pattern was to never leave the hot doe alone. As long as I didn't spook her, I could get photos of him, if there was enough light! And there were a lot of photos of him that had to be thrown in the trash because poor light made for an unusable image.

How'd he get this big? The property owners made a conscious decision not to harvest him if the chance arose, thank goodness they did because they allowed one of the greatest bucks ever to live to a ripe old age!"
--Bill Kinney



here he is at 1.5, 2.5, 4.5 years old respectively ..... more of when he is older to follow ....

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

and 5.5, 6.5, years old .....

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Thats a great buck.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

7 1/2 and 8 1/2

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

looks like gregH's buck

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

nice deer....y aren't you hunting him??? lol

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Incredible, what a rare set of photos.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Yeah I remember seeing this, that truely is incredible to see the growth over the years. Seems like the main growing was done between 1.5 and 3.5. He certainly did gain some mass and length from 3.5 to 8.5, but I still think a buck is mature at 3.5 in most cases. After that its just gray hairs and beer bellys lol.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Hey leave me out of this buddy, lol:D:D;) *gray hair, beer bellys*

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

nice big buck!!!

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they don't get that big here ......they're not allowed to .....looking at him at 8 1/2 .... I wonder what he would score .....

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

I know of the article PreacherTony.. and it was a very well written and documented one.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

that is awesome... great post
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RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Great pics and story, thanks. From carefully looking at those pics, I'd have to say it is at age 5.5 years that he truly looks mature, both by antler and body. What a stud.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Too bad the "tweener" year pix is missing! :D


what a buck though.. very cool pix

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This crap is photoshopped! Haha, just messing around. I can't believe you were actually able to get photos of this giant every year like that. Seems pretty amazing to me. What happened after 8.5? Is he still alive and you are waiting to photograph him again this year or did old age take its course on him. His body is huge...and the mass of his antlers is amazing. Thanks for the great post!

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Troy, so bad I wanna see him at3 1/2 ..... the jump from 2.5 to 4.5 is massive!!

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

But he would onlyhave nubsforantlers in early summer/late spring.[8D]

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Yup, I'd love to see that pix too....and if they live were they get pressured ... they become a completely different critter by 4.5, a truesurvival machine. Especially a buck like him,whom would bring so much attention to himself at 4.5from local hunters.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

No disrespect to Greg's buck but this guy is much bigger!! What a monster he turns out to be! That was one of the coolest things I've seen yet on here. To my surprising his antlers are still growing or at least not down sizing at 8.5.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

This was an article in Field and Stream ... read the story before the pics ...... I wish I knew what happened to him ... what his sheds scored .... it is a fascinating story, though

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

Thanks for sharing Preacher! Excellent story and pics!!!

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Those nubs would be just fine.. especially if your the one picking up his sheds! wouldnt that be wicked to have those 8 years of bones!

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OOPS! [X(]Ya got me Trevor! [:@]:D

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

I know some of you have seen this pic before, but this one shows the jump from 2.5 years to 3.5 years on a whitetail I hunted for 2 years in NY. Pretty amazing to say the least. He put on easily 30" in one year.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

From everything I have read. After 2.5 a buck will put most of the energy into growing a rack. 2.5 and lower must of his energy goes to body growth.

Let them get old, and the bone will grow;) In ANY location, maybe not as much as other locations, butbone will grow, must of the time.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

I TOTALLY agree with you, Gary ......

Matt .... thanks for those pics ....... great stuff

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Schultzy, I ws under the impression that their racks shrunk substantially after a certain age ..... not this guy

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Interesting article and post. Thanks

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Great Pictures...Great Story...thanks PreacherTony.

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I was to Preacher! It suprised me as well! Thanks for the thread Preacher, that was awesome and one of the best threads I've seen yet!

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that is truely amazing! i would frame every one of those and hang them in my house.

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Great post Preacher. When I have some time I'm gonna try and find out what happened to that magnificent animal, I;m intrigued.

RE: Rack Growth Over the Years
 

John, if you can find out, make sure you post it ...... it was a Field and Stream article by Bill Kinney ....