Posted on 11/24/2005 2:37:55 PM PST by Ranald S. MacKenzie
Does the number of tines & size of the antlers determine the age of the buck? or just his size? They do lose the rack every year, right?
I wonder how much that bad boy weighed in at?
Not 9... 19 but just the same if you don't like hunting, don't hunt.
Yes, they do lose their racks every year. I believe their ages are best determined by the wear and tear on their teeth and jaw bones.
Hey, at least he took it with a bow. THAT's hunting.
Do you know how destructive these animals can be? They are already armed in a manner of speaking.
There are lots of mule deer and a fair number of whitetails too in the area. Pretty good considering they were almost extinct in the 30's.
Age is a factor, along with diet, genetics, etc.. Some ranches in Texas are actually using artificial insemination to breed tropy bucks with big, healthy does.
The age and genetics of the white tail species has an effect on the size of the antlers. The quality of the deer's food supply also plays a role. The antlers are shed annually beginning usually in December or January and begin to grow again in April or May.
Good story.
a Bumpersticker I saw a little while ago, black background, white letters: Gut Deer?
"Is that the guy's IQ? I sure hope he's really proud of his "Kill". As I've said before........arm the innocent animals. Let's make it even."
Well, these innocent animals are armed -- they are WILD animals and the fact that they survived all the dangers they face in the wild long enough to be that old/big means they aren't poor little Bambis dancing with wolves openly in the forest, an easy target for the mean old hunter and other predators.
And this guy who spent all that time scouting the forest for deer, learning how to use a stick with a string, and how to make a clean, humane shot with one, probably had quite a disadvantage killing this deer.
And this innocent animal probably lived a beautiful life in the wild, and died swiftly, and in the wild, unlike the turkey or pig you probably feasted on today, sir (or ma'am).
And, unlike the animals you probably feasted on today, this animal was not shot full of hormones, or lived on a factory farm in unnatural conditions.
So I wouldn't question this guy's IQ if I were you until I learned a little more about what is involved in deer hunting.
Not only is Doug a great hunter, he is a fine man too.
Go back to your favorite PETA site.
OMG, you know him? And yes, you're right, he is a fine man.
"Does the number of tines & size of the antlers determine the age of the buck? "
No, to get their age you have to cut them open and count the rings.
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