ORIGINAL: SilverKype

The face on the buck is awesome. Dandy brow tines.

is that the spread can only be counted up to the length of the main beams.   I'm not sure if it's the shorter beam or the longest... I'm thinking the shorter.  

 
 
It's the longer of the two main beams that spread cannot exceed.

I don't have an explaination why P & Y do that.   When bucks get really wide like that, they tend to lose symmetry... look at the difference in the g2's.   P & Y use the term "perfect score" a lot.   Guess they don't want a buck without perfect symmetry to hold the record.   A buddy of mine shot a split brow tine 11 point two years ago that had a 26.5 inch inside spread.  But it was considered to be 2.5 years old.. not much mass.  It was definitely a freak... but certainly unique.
 
That particular buck above looks like his body was headed downhill.  Look at all the flabbly skin.   If it was December, maybe I'd think it was just normal.  Good someone got him instead of mother nature.
 
I'd say bucks peak at 4.5 - 5.5, maybe 6.5.  Some say 4.5 - 8.5.    Feed and social structure probably has alot to do with it.  Maybe even genetics.  Do some humans have heart attacks at an earlier age than others?  Some don't at all.. genes probably play a role.   Probably different in different areas of the country ?   Most agree 4.5 is the beginning of max potential. 
 
 
 
I pay close attention to P & Y because I think it's neat, but it reality, I could give a rats what a deer scores..   I do like to use it as an indicator for size among discussions.   I think that's what is so fascinating about whitetails... no rack is ever exactly the same.

Why all the dicussion about the possibility of it being a P and Y deer. Pope and Young does not consider it to be an archery killed deer; period!! Pork; if you are posting pics of some-one else's deer, I hope you know this hunter or have permission to do so. Let him defend himself if need be. I asked a logial question about the fact the pic was taken after it was dark. Doc made a statement that it was shot in the morning and the deer was found shortly. Not questioning his ethics or where it was shot; just the fact that if other people have their facts straight, there will be questions. As for the X-bow comment; I agree with PopeandYoung.

Well as long as we are discrediting things here...What about the trail cam pics that appear to have the deer feeding there less than 2 months before the season.  Was this deer baited?

another thing, Dr. trout also put a picture on here, why don't you say something to him????  give pork a break, he did nothing but voice his opinion..no such thing as privacy act with a picture that he wanted everyone to see..he took it and emailed it to someone in ny..

Pork and 270; Not trying to discredit the hunter or the deer. Just the fact that people who don't really know the facts or the hunter have taken it upon themselves to spread the picture and the story of the hunt. I agree with Ben about too many hoax's. It makes us all a little skeptical when we hear of any record class deer being taken. I've never been jealous of another man's glory; but I'll be very disappointed if it turns out to be something that is not on the up and up.

speaking of hoaxes, did anyone else get the text msg about a big buck being shot around greenville? any truth to it?

WRT pork's inquiry about age and horn size... generally the buck will peak at age 6 and go downhill thereafter, and it does depend on diet as to the +/- from age 6. friends of mine with deer farms see the best antlers at year 5 and 6, although if you get a good gene pool buck... you'll get a decent first rack, large 2nd rack and a rack with a lot of size and character the 3rd year...continuing all the way to the peak age as long as the deer remains healthy.

""How come you pulled that head shot from the other sight doc ??""
That "head shot" was not one of the photos I received in an E-mail...
so I could not post it.. I never had it to post..
 
I only posted the photos I received in E-mails...
 
 

He left that buck lay in the woods all night after taking a couple photos ??

So he was already talking to gear sponsors before the deer was even out of the woods??
When did he call them before or after he found the deer? Sounds kinda hinky Doc..
I've seen you ride young hunters for not getting there deer out of the woods quick enough, said they shouldn't be on The internet talking about it instead of trying to find it..  When all they were doing was asking for help..
What do you think of this Doc..
 
If I had that deer down in the woods prority number one would be to get it out...
He's **** lucky the coyotes didn't find it...

Thats a great buck but im gonna agree with a few things thats been said

1: ive never seen any deer look that way, its face just looks BLAH
2: if i shot a buck like that, id find someone, anyone to get that deer out of the woods
3: why on earth would you go home and call up the crossbow manufacturer for picture tips

I dont think anyone has a hard time admitting rackwise that is the buck of a lifetime. The story is just a little whacky.

ORIGINAL: Dr. Trout


 Excaliber suggested the leaves to cover the belly cut and any blood be not visable and no tongue hanging out so they could use the photo in there publicity..

 
 
Sounds like the deer may have been left overnight, to get some tips for an exceptable photo...   If this is true, well... I'm gonna stop there for now..

the "black" around the eyes does seem weird, i've left deer over night or what not and its not "black" around the eyes like that, the eyes are more sunk in then anything but not quite black. it looks like charcoal all over his face. and what will everyone say to that? i'll do it for you "oh thats just an old deer" "most mature bucks are dark" yes darker not black.

and i certainly wouldnt leave it over night, if you found it, gutted it..okay he MAY had to work or whatever...but im sure that guy coulda drug that deer to his truck? i'd assume and get it in... i know my dad is older then he is and he's done it before.

The Deer is huge can't take that away, the story seems alittle off...i know myself and 99% everyone else if they gutted and found the deer, it wouldnt just lay in the woods all night for a photo. specially a deer of that caliber. and instead of continuing this comment...im just stopping with that, and getting off this computer. good bye.

oh wait haha, i just saw griffons deer, now thats a next morning picture....refer to that picture and look at the eyes.
and that "nice" guy Trout, doesnt even smile in one of the pictures that are coming threw on my computer, shot a 181? and hes not smiling? what too "stunned" and on cloud 9 to know what happened? right.