Antler Growth
Yearling Buck antler variability
Buck
antler size is strongly influenced by 3 factors: age, nutrition and genetics. In
the forested parts of the state, a higher percentage of yearling bucks will be
spikes while in the farmland, a majority will have 3 or 4 total points and
yearlings with 6,8 or even 10 point antlers are common.
Examples of yearling class
age bucks
Typical
antler growth by age
As a buck matures, the antlers
typically retain their general shape but increase in size over time. Each year,
they will get wider and gain mass, points will probably increase as well.
Field
judging buck age
Besides
antlers, there are other ways to field judge the age of a buck.
·
Yearling buck will have smaller
faces & relatively thin necks, even during rut.
·
At 2 ½ years old, a buck will look
heavier and be more muscular in the head, neck and chest. In November, a swollen
neck is a good sign that the deer is not a yearling.
·
As a buck gets past 2 ½ years, you
will see annual increases in body mass and neck size. Also, the belly may start
to sag and the back may dip alon the spine.
