Blacktail Rut?

[JDHasty]

Nice find JD.  He is well muscled.

This buck showed up in the middle of the night to scent check the apple trees.  I've never seen this one, nor any four-point in the yard before.  Looks like he's sexually frustrated - the branches in his rack indicate he's been taking out his frustrations on neighborhood plantings.

Tail sticking straight out! 

[fishnfur]

Good genetics on that young buck. He will be a big fella in a year or 2

That's what I was thinking too.  I think he's likely a 3 year old.     

Here's one from two days ago who's body looks 3 - 4 y/o on vid, but the white face and small eyes in relation to his face may indicate he's older.  Pretty unspectacular rack either way.  He was scent checking a rubline somewhere around 11:00 AM.  That was  the only action during a four day soak.  Pretty slow.....

[fishnfur]

Good genetics on that young buck. He will be a big fella in a year or 2

That's what I was thinking too.  I think he's likely a 3 year old.     

Here's one from two days ago who's body looks 3 - 4 y/o on vid, but the white face and small eyes in relation to his face may indicate he's older.  Pretty unspectacular rack either way.  He was scent checking a rubline somewhere around 11:00 AM.  That was  the only action during a four day soak.  Pretty slow.....

Edit:  I disparaged his antlers too quickly.  If you're counting legal points, it turned out he has three plus an eyeguard on the right.   4x2 in WT speak.

[DaveMonti]

The activity at my place has been bonkers over the past 5 days.  Bucks on the cameras every day, some with does, some cruising. 

[JDHasty]

Good genetics on that young buck. He will be a big fella in a year or 2

That's what I was thinking too.  I think he's likely a 3 year old.     

Here's one from two days ago who's body looks 3 - 4 y/o on vid, but the white face and small eyes in relation to his face may indicate he's older.  Pretty unspectacular rack either way.  He was scent checking a rubline somewhere around 11:00 AM.  That was  the only action during a four day soak.  Pretty slow.....

Edit:  I disparaged his antlers too quickly.  If you're counting legal points, it turned out he has three plus an eyeguard on the right.   4x2 in WT speak.

Old buck whose antlers are on the slide.  By B&C standards not a trophy, but by any rational standard: getting out in front of this guy makes him a trophy. 

I have a buck that was a better B&C measured trophy when he was younger and bigger, but I missed him.  Never would have been B&C anyway, but to not mount him with his split eared cape and put those antlers (antlers most hunters will never see, yet alone collect) would do that old rascal a disservice.  He is what he was on the day I got him, and he was a couple years smarter than when I first saw him.

 

[fishnfur]

In general (from no experience whatsoever, but only what I've read/heard) regressive bucks maintain their mass, especially in the bases.  The last buck is very weak in the bases and overall mass, which lead me to believe he wasn't too old.  As always, I might be totally FOS and way off base on this assumption.   

I sure hope we get a freeze soon.  The forecast has lows in the mid-40s for the foreseeable future.  The hardwoods and brush down here still have a lot of leaves reducing visibility, which may make this the most difficult Late Buck season in the last many years.

[XJcoug13]

I have the buck tag for gmu 658.  been hitting it hard but have only seen 4 does and one small buck. This has been my worst year of deer hunting to date.. going to hit some closed gates in a couple hours. hoping today is the day 

[predatorG]

Good genetics on that young buck. He will be a big fella in a year or 2

That's what I was thinking too.  I think he's likely a 3 year old.     

Here's one from two days ago who's body looks 3 - 4 y/o on vid, but the white face and small eyes in relation to his face may indicate he's older.  Pretty unspectacular rack either way.  He was scent checking a rubline somewhere around 11:00 AM.  That was  the only action during a four day soak.  Pretty slow.....

Edit:  I disparaged his antlers too quickly.  If you're counting legal points, it turned out he has three plus an eyeguard on the right.   4x2 in WT speak.

i don't care about the points here, his antlers look nearly black and that's super super cool

[deerhunter_98520]

I have the buck tag for gmu 658.  been hitting it hard but have only seen 4 does and one small buck. This has been my worst year of deer hunting to date.. going to hit some closed gates in a couple hours. hoping today is the day 

Good luck in there...deer are scarce...I'll be heading out there tonight to camp till wed for elk to help a couple friends

[N7XW]

658 is my local stomping ground since I live in Westport.  In all the years I've hunted, hiked, rode dirt bikes there, I've seen more elk than deer.  It is a great unit for elk but not so much for deer in my experience.

[fishnfur]

I couldn't stand it anymore.  I put on my hunter orange and just after first light, went out scouting the area I'd seen some does and bucks over the past month.  Raining nicely - zero action in three hours.  They musta been sleeping in.     
Slow out there.

[Harbor_hunter]

I've got the 658 buck tag too and am not seeing anything.  I do agree there are better units for deer, but have always seen deer and bucks in there over the years during this time of year.   Of course now when I draw a tag I don't.  Haven't been able to hunt as much as I would like, but figured hunting during this time of year would turn up better results.  Tomorrow is a new day, back at it tomorrow. 

[fishnfur]

Dang!  You've got a temporary case of my badluckitis.   For the time being, you'll only see bucks when you're not hunting.  Side effects you may experience include bouts of frustration and fits of rage.   Do not despair though, this condition will completely resolve in about nine days.   

Good luck out there today!  Shoot straight.

[slowhand]

Get Your gear loaded and all Your ducks in a row. It's the weekend before late Buck.
I can't wait. Get You some!
Wait! Just Get one..... 

[Harbor_hunter]

Ended up shooting a little two point this morning.  First buck I have seen so far during the permit season.  Not the buck I was hoping for, but was a good morning in the woods all in all.