Blacktail bucks don't weigh squat

[bucklucky]

I have shot and weighed 7 blacktails that I killed that were over 200 pounds live weight. Dressed weights are, 4 point 197 lbs  approx 250 live, 3 point 189 lbs aprox 245 live, 3 point 185 lbs aprox 238 live, 4 point 214 aprox 278, 3x2 192 lbs aprox 247 live, 3x2 205 aprox 265 live and the 5 point 194 dressed 250 live. Thats taking the dresssed weight(actualy weighed) and using the deer weight chart for the aproximate live weight. The big 3x2 was using the meat yeild to get live weight. I dont know , I'm sure I'll catch a bunch of flack on this one but thats the actual dressed weights on the bucks. All good mature bucks. And these are blacktails not bench bucks. O.K , Let the fueding begin!! This could get fun.Or not. I probably wont get a response.

[actionshooter]

 I'll bite,  I've shot a couple of forkies that probably didn't make triple digits   

[bucklucky]

 

[Ray]

You never know the weight of an animal or other object until you weigh it on a scale.  Just like I said before. If someone said they weighed an animal I would take their word on that. If they didn't then expect people to question it.

Having said that - nobody said blacktails don't weigh over 200 lbs. I think your topic title is a little misleading as far as the points you are trying to get at from a previous thread and the points that other people were making.

[boneaddict]

Not much of a debate.  If you weighd them, you weighed them.  There are some absolute hawgs out there.  Estimated live weight, off of charts...is just that ESTIMATED.  You as a taxidermist should know how every animal is individual in their build ect.  When yo utake measurements for forms, do you buy S, M or large, or do you measure.  Point is, if you are going to quote weights, weigh them.  If you are going to quote scores, score them correctly.  You are also aware of how MANY taxidermists don't have a clue on how to score, but they try to do it to make their clients feel all good about themselves. Just because somebody scores your deer, or elk or moose, it doesn't mean anything if they don't have a clue.

[Ray]

When I go to the store to buy a 20lb turkey I can assume that somebody weighed it. Not estimated it. If that sort of mentality from me gets people mad.. then that is their problem. Separating facts from fiction is not done by a thin line of guesstimating and speculation and someone's historic success doing so. My remarks are not based on personal attacks.

[billythekidrock]

Yes, they do get over 200lbs. Killed a few myself that gutted out at 200, but I never ventured a guess (or needed to) at live weight.
If you didn't weigh the whole deer how do you know what the live weight is? What deer weight chart? Ya know those charts aren't completely acurate right? Might want to preface the weights with "and according to the chart".

[Ray]

Miles has it right. Nobody really gives a hoot except for my dog - who anxiously waits for more sausage.

[Palmer]

Weight is something to be proud of in some circumstances.  If I got a 4 point Sitka Blacktail in Alaska or a Columbian Blacktail off Camano Island it may weigh only 130lbs.  Whereas a 4 point Cascade Blacktail from Henry Jackson Wilderness may be 300 lbs.  Same goes for a 5 point Coues Whitetail in Arizona vs a 5 point Whitetail in Illinois.  If someone gives me a weight I get an idea and I don't count it exact unless they say it was weighed.  Now if someone said they got one off one of the islands in the Sound and said it was over 200lbs without weighing it I'd scough.

Remember also that you have Sitkas, Columbians, and Muley mixes.  so on the islands you may have Sitka Blacktail which are much smaller.  Many Blacktail mare mixed Sitka and Columbian.  In the Cascades you've got a mix of Blacktail and Muley.

My butcher wants the head taken off as well as dressed out so he says the dead weight is 60%.  Dead weight/60% = live weight.

[Dman]

You never know the weight of an animal or other object until you weigh it on a scale.  Just like I said before. If someone said they weighed an animal I would take their word on that. If they didn't then expect people to question it.

Having said that - nobody said blacktails don't weigh over 200 lbs. I think your topic title is a little misleading as far as the points you are trying to get at from a previous thread and the points that other people were making.

 Let's just say that everyone's blacktail experience may be different, they do vary in size locally -as stated above, very well put, but they definitely can reach well over 200lbs. An islands blacktail doesn't have the habitat needed to reach the size of say, a Cascade foothill buck. I don't agree that you cannot field judge the size of a deer. It's no different than benchmarking during any type of construction project. You start with say a 150lb forky, there's your benchmark. You have him weighed and several other buck's of varying size weighed, now you have a relatively accurate way to gauge the size of any future buck. Fairly easy to tell, if you know your own capabilities say, squat press-wise to tell how much you are lifting off the ground also, when packing a deer, so there's really two different ways to help you field judge the weight.

[Ray]

I don't agree that you cannot field judge the size of a deer.

1- never said people cannot field judge animal.

2- did say this though. Expect people to question it if you didn't weigh it.

Weight is something to be proud of in some circumstances.

I agree it is something to be proud of. however nobody but hunters care. that's my point there.

[Dman]

 It's just damn tough to get a weight on a deer most of the time. I know of only one place about two hours south of me I could get it done, not going to drive that far! My hunting partner suggested I use my wife's nice bathroom scale, that would be the last you'd hear from me........

[Ray]

I would agree that is something most people cannot or will not do because it is inconvenient or they could care less.

[Michelle_Nelson]

It's just damn tough to get a weight on a deer most of the time. I know of only one place about two hours south of me I could get it done, not going to drive that far! My hunting partner suggested I use my wife's nice bathroom scale, that would be the last you'd hear from me........

You have to drive that far to weigh a deer?  Goo buy a scale from Sportsman, Cabelas, Bass Pro, or Sportco.  I use to keep one at the deer process I wroked for and my taxidermy shop.  Looks like I need to go buy another one.

[Ray]

As someone once said - 500lb bucks - better known as "buicks"