Largest Blacktail I've ever dreamed of

[257 Wby Mag]

Looks like I need practice

[Dman]

 Amazing how light in color those antlers are, I've killed bucks in Thurston, Lewis and Pierce County near that area and they all had really chocolate colored antlers. I'm guessing he's taken these in the same general area, out of the same gene pool. Thanks for posting, something to keep drooling after.

[Houndhunter]

i'll have to get some pics of my uncles sheds that hes got. they're the biggest blacktails horns i think i have ever seen. i cant say if they're bigger then the ones you guys have posted becuase it would get alota points docked off for having so much trash on it. im guna see him tomarrow and ill ask if i can take some pics of the mount he did on it. i also may get some pics of the #3 in washington whitetail that he has at his house. gotta make sure its ok if i show them though

[Bighorse]

Notice the "Dry Bottoms" box............Its good he was packin them........I would have *censored* myself too when I walked up on that!

[bucklucky]

Looks like he was going to do a lifesize on the 170 buck. I dont think that antler colors have anything to do with location to much. I have killed real chocolate brown antlered bucks and the real blond horns on the same road where I hunt. I also have more of a gray horned buck from the same spot.

[257 Wby Mag]

Yes, Alden did a full body mount for him, its in RM, sneak model. Agreed Bucklucky, doesn't have anything to do with location on Blacktails. I'll post my last 3 bucks, all killed within 200-300 yards of each other in the same clearcut.

[257 Wby Mag]

Here's the one you're doing a Euro mount on.

[257 Wby Mag]

Here's 2006's buck, killed within 100 yards of this years.Decent 2X4, can't pass em up.

[257 Wby Mag]

Here's my avatar buck, killed in 05', same clearcut as the prior 2 about 300 yards away. B&C 116 5/8, oldest, biggest buck I've killed. Don't know how much he weighed, and don't care, never weighed a buck before. He got brought out in little pieces on my Alaskan guide pack frame. Enjoy

[boneaddict]

Antler color for location only has to do with what they are rubbing.  If there is alot of cedar or hemlock they are redder, the lighter antlers denote alot of Doug fir in the area that they are ripping.  Spruce equals black.  Difffernt pine means a different color.  Bucks tend to concentrate on their "favorites", but it has to be there.

[257 Wby Mag]

Agreed, guess I misunderstood your post a while back. Over here they get after alder, maple, and jack firs' pretty good. I love it when you can smell the pitch on em'.

[Dman]

 Bone was right on with one of the factor's of antler coloration, the other factor is one that is genetically passed down and that is hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Here's a good read on it.

 http://www.forestry.state.al.us/publication/TF_publications/tfspring99/deer_antler_development.htm

[257 Wby Mag]

I think we were all right Dman, like I've just shown you, the horns around here are either dark or light. You can't estimate where a buck was killed based on horn color.

[boneaddict]

Thats for sure.

[addicted]

what about age, diet, and health?