I hear this so much and so often, but I just cant go along with it. Maybe i'm wrong. What percentage of 8 points really never make a 9, or 10 pt trophy? I ask this question after reading through another thread and wondering because I have always just not believed this old adage, especially if its a young 8. How many times have we all been gathered around someones 3 1/2 year old decent 8pt only to have someone say, "he'd never have made anything better".............Tell me, is this old adage true in your opinion? i'm open minded to some learning here......
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I don't think it is - Have I watched deer that remained 8 points throughout their life? YES - but I don't for a second think that the majority of bucks that are 3yrs old and only have 8 points are going to remain 8 points for their entire lifeOriginally posted by JackFlash View Post -
We had a 20" wide 4yr old 8pt that the next year was a 5yr old 11pt that measured 24" wide. Is that the norm no but to answer your question if you don't let them grow you will never know.Comment
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I have heard the same, but after not killing anything other then freaky 3s on my place I have seen some deer grow. Out of the five 8 point bucks I have been watching since 2012 this year 2 are 10s. Granted I can't guarantee 2 were killed and these 2 10s took there place but that would be a long shot. I am in for some schooling though so I will sit and wait for other replies.Comment
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Not the case, even mutt bucks/spikes can end up being something better or something they weren't the next year... the Man up stairs and mother nature decide.Comment
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Following.Comment
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I don't think most will only stay an 8, but a friend of mine who was my county game warden in Ohio said that they sometimes only jump out of that 8 pt slump if they reach a higher rank in the herd, or basically become the big dog...
Not sure if this is true, but heck who cares, if I shot the giant 8pt I had at 8 yds in Ohio I wouldn't have cared to know what bigger he could've gotten! He spooked the only time I saw him because of my brother in a stand close by, but someone else shot him with a muzzleloader later that season. 24" inside spread, G2s over 16", one G3 was 17"..... turns out he was only estimated to be 4-1/2.
Sometimes it's also dependent on the food supply, if the minerals aren't there, they may not develop more than 8 pts... IMOComment
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No!!Comment
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I used to hear that quite often, but I don't find it to be completely true. One of the best bucks ever killed off of our old lease first showed up as good looking 3 1/2 year old 8 pointer, and then we watched that same buck turn into a great 10 the next year, and then was harvested as a main-framed 10 with a kicker off his right G2 the following year. If a deer is any older than that though I do believe that they will have a hard time making the jump.Comment
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Not sure. Seems like I have been an 8 point forever.Comment
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No, not all 8's will remain an 8 point. At any point in their life they can add or lose points from year to year. MOST of the younger 8's I have watched turn into something with more than 8 points. And I have seen 6-8 year old 8's turn into some fantastic deer with up to 16 points (that I can remember off the top of my head).
I shot a big 8 (161") a couple years ago that would flip-flop each year between being a 10 or an 8. He was a heck of a 10 the year before I shot him (7.5 years old and mid-160's) but we gambled on him returning to a BIG 8 the following year at 8.5. He did.
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We have had several 3 year old eights jump to 10 points are more as fouryear olds and at 7.5 i killed one that was nineteen points another made it to thirteen points,we have had them go down also as Chance said,their is a Big 6 that i coudnt get on last year that was 8.5,at 5.5 was an 8 at 6.5 a nine,7.5 a seven point last year a big 6.and their has been quit a few 140 class 8s killed off our place and a 152 inch 8Comment
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This deer was an 8pt at 3.5Attached FilesComment
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Let;em walk....Comment
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I think feeding protein can play a big partComment
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