Friend shot these 2 the same morning an hour apart(2012 muzzleloader VA). I always liked this picture because it illustrates the diffenerce between a decent buck and a giant pretty well. Where we hunt there are a couple good ones killed or caught on camera every season or so but for the most part if you get a chance at a decent 8 around 100-120 most guys here are probably gonna take it, myself included. This particualr morning that's what happened, he shot the "decent buck" first thing in the morning then an hour later on the same trail he shot the "giant". It really gave me some perspective when I saw them side by side. Just thought I'd share, you just never know what's out there.
Wow...I would be proud any day of the "decent" buck, until it's shown like this. Now it makes me wonder. Great picture.
I can not believe the difference between the two. Wow! I would be happy with the "decent" let alone the big one!
the "decent" one looks 4.5 y.o. and looks like a shooter. Good illustration of what potential a relatively young shooter still has.
I think all harvested deer are great, it's the story and excitement that gets me going. But for a buck, in my opinion good is a 3.5 year old over 120 and great is a 4.5 year old over 150.
Wow, awesome illustration of the difference. They are both nice deer, but that big one is something special.
That deer was probably 170 pounds and a pretty standard 15-16" wide 8. Maybe 100" of antler. The deer in this area have pretty good genetics and a lot of crops but we generally don't see the really big boys unless they make it to 5+ years which in this area is doing something.
A couple other pics, couldn't find any real good ones of the smaller buck but did find one that shows the rack from the front side. It was a decent buck but when you see them beside each other you hardly notice the "little fella". Middle pic is the smaller one.
