Help score this ghost

[drogers6771]

170. What a bruiser!!

[matt.howell411]

172 or so


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[Patton]

Mid 170s

[Ground Checkin' Heavies]

I got 186 with 28in beams


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[bowmansdad]

He will bump 180.

[GrandSlam]

His mass looks great on 1st pic and not as great on the others. My guess is 165

[DimmitCo]

Finally caught up with him! Estimated 7.5yr old based on 3 years of history and teeth. Scored 175

He fooled all of us on width...we thought he was for sure 24”+ wide, but he went just under 22”. There’s an interesting question that might bring more discussion on another forum, but in this deer’s case he went from a typical 14pt as an estimated 5yr old (first year on the radar), to a typical 13pt at estimated 6yrs (and by pictures looked like he lost 8-10”), to a typical 12pt with a kicker at estimated 7yrs. We had solid food sources for this deer the last 2 years.
I’m of the belief that his antler growth peaked at 5, so a few questions for discussion:
1. What are others’ experiences regarding waiting to let South Texas deer “mature” to 6-7+, only to find that their antler size goes downhill after age 4 or 5? Is this more common than we think?
2. Could the deer have been older than 5 when we first spotted him, so maybe he was 8-9yrs this year?
3. Would anyone have gambled to see if he could have possibly made it another year?

Note: this is the best buck I’ve ever taken

[TildenHunter]

Finally caught up with him! Estimated 7.5yr old based on 3 years of history and teeth.
He fooled all of us on width...we thought he was for sure 24”+ wide, but he went just under 22”. There’s an interesting question that might bring more discussion on another forum, but in this deer’s case he went from a typical 14pt as an estimated 5yr old (first year on the radar), to a typical 13pt at estimated 6yrs (and by pictures looked like he lost 8-10”), to a typical 12pt with a kicker at estimated 7yrs. We had solid food sources for this deer the last 2 years.
I’m of the belief that his antler growth peaked at 5, so a few questions for discussion:
1. What are others’ experiences regarding waiting to let South Texas deer “mature” to 6-7+, only to find that their antler size goes downhill after age 4 or 5? Is this more common than we think?
2. Could the deer have been older than 5 when we first spotted him, so maybe he was 8-9yrs this year?
3. Would anyone have gambled to see if he could have possibly made it another year?

Note: this is the best buck I’ve ever taken

What did he score? Congrats!

[panhandlehunter]

Upper 60s low 70s? My wife killed one similar last year, hers was 24” wide a little taller I think and he finished out at 176. I also think he was much bigger last year.

[DimmitCo]

What did he score? Congrats!

Thanks! Edited to add 175

[sotx]

First off congrats on a fine buck. Next what does this bad boy score. As far as age goes, I would have his teeth cementum aged to find out what he is. In my opinion I think we have a tendency to under age deer, my guess is this buck is older than you may think.

[DimmitCo]

Upper 60s low 70s? My wife killed one similar last year, hers was 24” wide a little taller I think and he finished out at 176. I also think he was much bigger last year.

175. His tines curl in which adds a little more length than it appears in the pictures.

[Rwc]

Congrats on a solid mature deer. I will not be surprised if you get him clinically aged that the results show much older than your guess.

Going to make a beautiful mount.

Got to ask, why black out your face on the LDP's? No biggie, Just curious is all.

Rwc

[panhandlehunter]

175. His tines curl in which adds a little more length than it appears in the pictures.

Congrats. Hell of a deer.

[GoneSouth]

Did you have to use the dog to track him?