I was able to visit the grounds again this past Saturday too mow and hang a couple of new set ups. It was a muddy mess and I probably spent more time cleaning the pulling mower and 4wheeler than I did cutting new trails and shooting lanes on both of my set ups. I had sneaked out the previous Friday and hung a trail camera on a trail I made last season to the large fields in the bottoms. this year its beans and they are small 4" tall. anyways after checking the camera I had 288 pic's. not bad for one week. these are the only bucks in the bunch, but I'm pleased to see they survived last season. It's almost as if they could have shrunk a little?? I can't seem to find the pictures from last season, sorry.
Maybe last year's drought is having an effect on their antler growth this year? Not sure where you are located in IL, but up here at the northern end I have some pics (wish I could figure out how to load them to ANY site this year, but laptop is not allowing it) of bucks from last year and this year and the only growth I seem to have this year is with their spread. They did not seem to put much on for tine length around here. Kinda strange.
are you 100% sure they're the same deer as last year? Could very well be 1 year younger offspring from the same gene pool. These guys look like 3yos to me. Maybe the ones from last year haven't shown up yet. (just trying to give you reason for optimism.)
I'm 99% sure they are the same two. They look exactly the same except the one grow wider. and 8 and 10 in the same area. Who know's I also had a little 4 pointer running around this same area. he could have easily grew to this size in a year, but I think its the same two. I'll try and find a picture from last season.
