So I've finally picked enough sheds and scored enough racks to start amassing data on certain bucks' antler growth from year to year to year... Now, let me start off by saying that I have a really hard time matching a 1.5 year old set of antlers up to a 2.5 year old set. That is, they tend to make a pretty big jump, and without a signature piece of character to tip me off, I'm really reluctant to pick up a 73" scrubrack 3x3 and commit that it belongs to a 121" two year old. So let's disregard the jump from 1.5 to 2.5. That's a crapshoot. Now once we get a 2.5 year old set of headgear, we can establish a baseline. Let's say 4x4 2.5 year old that tapes out to 108". In my area, based on my numbers, you can almost take it to the bank that he'll go 125-132. That is, he'll pack on 17-23" from year 2.5 to 3.5. The same logic carries from 3.5 to 4.5. 17-23". Those seem to be the magic numbers. By my math, that buck will be in the 142-155 as a 4.5 year old. Generally, the more points on the frame, the more they add (a 5x5 will pack on inches faster than a mainframe 4x4). Now I'm just wondering how those numbers vary geographically. All my data is coming from SE Ohio. What kind of annual growth do YOU get in YOUR hunting areas? ...and for you guys who are coming in significantly above or below my 20" baseline, let us know what part of the country you're from, what types of food sources that you have available, and what you're doing to supplement the antler growth.
Can't say I have the data you do. (props on the shoe leather) IMO, a 2.5 year old, at 100 inches, would be doing damn good on the buffet if he jumped more than 17 inches or so. I also wouldn't be surprised if after 3.5 a buck in my area hit some diminishing returns.
One of the 8's I shared pics of last season showed last night, he went from 115ish to 130+ this year. Last year several on here judged him as 4.5, but I think he's actually 4.5 this year. Not sure if that's average, I simply don't have enough time around bucks of that age class multiple years in a row to say for sure.
Fran From 2.5 to 3.5 years old... 15 - 25 " From 3.5 to 4.5 years old... 15 - 30" From 4.5 to 5.5 years old... 7 - 12" Boy it is really tough to narrow it down depending on when the bucks have there best growth spurt. Some bucks don't have a good growth year there 2nd year and will take off on there 3rd year. Some will take off there 4th year. On average expect 18 inches of growth a year for 3.5 and 4.5 year old bucks. Expect 10 inches at 5.5. Our bucks are ag/CRP bucks. They've got very good feed here and a lot of it... such as clover, alflafa, grasses for browse, corn, soybeans, canola and barley. Tim
Unfortunately, the yearling bucks' antlers don't grow any bigger when they're sitting in a bucket in the garage. I didn't see 0" as an option in the poll though.
