Nice A Zone Forkie

[Speckmisser]

You know, the first time in three years I decided not to get an a-zone tag, and I've seen this buck four times. ###

The contrast is kinda poor. ###I guess that's why they blend into their environment, huh? ###Plus, this little 75-200mm lens ain't quite Outdoor Life quality equipment. ###But if you look, you can see what I saw.



Here's another look.

[horseshoer]

Speckmisser, something to look forward to next year . ###That is always the way it goes isn't it.....

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[younghunter]

Great Pictures! ###Thats a nice fork horn! ###

[Fubar]

Speckmisser ###If you had a tag you probably would never have seen this buck. Nice buck though. I am starting to get excited about deer season. ### ###Fubar

(Edited by Fubar at 8:50 pm on Sep. 13, 2001)

[Speckmisser]

OK, here's a twister...

This buck looks like a really healthy guy. ###Obviously well-fed, good nutrition... but only a forkie. ###Odds are, with this genetic make-up, he's gonna turn into a true trophy (if he quits showing his broadside like this). ###He'll be breeding with an average of 9 does per season (this is a statistical average, and not specific to this deer), passing that genetic blueprint along to four or five young bucks and the same number of does every year for about seven to ten years. ###

In the same field each time I saw him was a smaller-racked forkie, with a deformed left beam. ###His antlers were stunted, although his body size was nearly the same as the nicer buck. ###Both appeared to be around the same level of physical maturity, and I'd guess that both were within a year or so of the same age.

So you're sitting where I was, only with a rifle instead of a camera. ###Which one would you shoot?

Hint: ###There is no "right" answer...but this should generate some thoughts.

[Swampy]

Both have the same size body? I would hope the buck in your pictures has already spread his genes around, cause he is going to be in my freezer

[wavesfr]

Hey speck you gonna be around this weekend?I was wondering if you were up to a little guiding trip?I could be there friday.LOL

[Speckmisser]

Sorry Surfer Boy... had to go try to fill my B-zone tag this weekend. ###

Actually saw a butchered carcass near the apples this big boy was feeding on. ###My guess is he won't be around next season. ###

As for the scenario I set a moment ago, My tendency would have been to remove the buck with deformed antlers. ###Can't eat points anyway. ###Let the big boy spread those pretty antlers around at least one more year. ###But the bottom line is, if that old Canon had been a "real" cannon, I might've thought differently. ###

[wmidbrook]

Nice picture. ###I'd have to say that I'd hold out for a nice rack if I already had meat in the freezer though--I don't feel the need to go for as many kills as possible. ###With one tag filled, I say let the others get bigger.

I don't necessarily feel any obligation to cull bucks based on horn formations--it's probably a fruitless activity unless it's a ranch situation where pressure and number of animals taken is controlled--in otherwords, where it's possible to manage a herd.