Rut Crazed 9-pt ; new pic added p.8

[JJB]

Nice job Mike! I hope one of you get the other big one too.
-Jay

[Herdbull]

The bucks don't know rut versus second rut, they just add a significant amount of body weight once the antler growth is finished the first of September through the last week of October. They then loose a good deal of fat during November tending does and eating less nutritionally. Its tough to add weight back once cold weather hits, so bucks are in their prime max weight for only a couple weeks per year.

[Burnsie]

Originally posted by Herdbull:
The bucks don't know rut versus second rut, they just add a significant amount of body weight once the antler growth is finished the first of September through the last week of October. They then loose a good deal of fat during November tending does and eating less nutritionally. Its tough to add weight back once cold weather hits, so bucks are in their prime max weight for only a couple weeks per year.

Thanks Mike
I take it the does in this scenario were on their second cycle?

[Herdbull]

The peak of the rut in our area is around Nov. 12th-14th, so that would mean there should be a lower number of does should come in heat at the begining of Novemer and a low number coming in athe end of November for their first cycle. I don't know the case for this individual animal. but I do look foward to the last week in December when I think that there will be a few does coming in estrus and the competion for those does should intice great calling response with horn rattling.

Two days after I killed this buck, I did wheeze in two other bucks with larger antlers, but appeared younger than this buck. The rut is where you find it I guess. Ha!

[SuperK]

Thank you for sharing with us!

[hitman]

What a great buck, congratsulations!!!

[doubleo]

Congrats Herdbull! That is a monster buck!

[meathead]

Great deer.  Sounds like a fun day.

[JMG]

Great job Mike!!    

[Guru]

Way to go bud!

[CoachBGriff]

Great deer!  It's funny how it works.  I too had some slow hunts this year, but it only takes a few seconds of the right spot at the right time!  Nice work.

[Gun]

Nice one Mike. Congrats! You earned it.

[Rays Arrow]

You can only see a little of his neck in the velvet pick but its huge.  Never seen a swollen neck on a velvet buck.

[Stone Knife]

Very nice, congratulations on a fin animal and great story to go with it.

[Keefer]

If we as people were born as deer I would have to say that Buck is Uncle Barry ..Just put a camo hat on him sideways an there you have it..  

[jcar315]

Congrats!!

[Stone Sheep]

Congratulations Mike!!

[Hooper]

That's a great buck Mike! Congrats!!

[pete p]

beautiful! i know you do your own taxi work. what form are you thinking?? what pose??

[Herdbull]

I never thought about which form. Probly a left turn with xl swollen neck. Ha! We never had a problem with ticks in our area, but after the two years of drought, we are seeing many deer with signs of tick infestaion. The deer tend to rub a spot free of hair in the middle of the back where they can reach with teeth. This buck had such rubs, as well as his front arm pits and up the briscuit. Firts EHD and now ticks. Tough. Ha!