How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

I just wondered if people from around the country could give me a no BS idea of how big a 3 year old whitetail buck is in their area. How heavy and what PY/BC score is typical?

Here in western Montana, our 3 year olds weigh about 170-200 lbs. on the hoof, and net score about 105-120 B&C. In northeastern Montana, they might go 180-220 lbs. and score 110-125. I think the main difference is the eastern deer have more cultivated crops to choose from.

Between my brother, my mother, and myself, we've killed 6 bucks in the last five years that were all exactly 3 years old, so we've got a pretty good sample of that age class. Yet, we've never taken one more than 3 years old.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

3-1/2 in my area

130 - 160 dressed average (early season)

100 to 130"

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

Sounds right to me.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

That sounds about the right range for antler development, our 3 year olds would probably be on the lighter side of your range. Maybe 150 lbs. or so!
Nutrition and weather conditions down here play a big part in weight and antler development! Deer across the highway from me, deer could be quite a bit different one way or the other!

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

Well for our mulies a 3 year old dressed weighs between 175 and 200 and scores maybe 100"! little 3 points...

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

Dirt2,

You want to know how to shoot bigger and older deer? Let them grow up and only shoot big ones. :) Let the little ones walk.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

According to biologists the hansen buck was 3-1/2 years old.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

A 3 1/2 around my area is going to go 175-200 dressed, and be pretty darn big. Probably score 120-140's.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

In my area of Central MO, they will weigh in range of 140 to 180 lbs. field dress. Antler-wise somewhere between 110 and 150 will include most them. There are always a few exceptions either lower or higher.

RE: How big is a 3 year old buck?
 

the gene pool in illinois is such that you can have very large deer by the time they reach 3 yrs old; my 16 pt buck ws 3 1/2 scored 222 non-typical and wighed ovr 240 pnds field dressed, although this is not the norm, a good 3 yr old will weigh about 180 #'s dressed and score around 130 or better