Scouting 2015

DIYLife

New Member
Mar 5, 2014
41
0
Idaho
I finally made a day and a half trip out to scout for archery season. I saw alot of bucks! Some of the biggest deer that I have seen in my life. I will be leaving next week to go hunt and am super pumped. I don't want to get to excited and stick a deer on the first day unless its a monster (well for the unit). I am told that I should see alot of deer between 150-160 and a few that are bigger. What do you guys think these bucks would score? Snapshot.jpgSnapshot(0).jpgSnapshot(1).jpgSnapshot(2).jpgSnapshot(3).jpg
 

johnsd16

Active Member
Mar 16, 2014
353
4
N Idaho
I am not an expert in mule deer having never killed one but have been studying them heavily in anticipation of my first hunt out west. That first buck has lots of mass but not as much length as the second but I bet may score better. The second one has a very nice mature long 4x4 frame with deep forks front and back. If you are looking for a mature buck I'd say both of those fit the bill and won't disappoint when the tape is put to them either. I'd say both are in the 160"+ neighborhood maybe more, but I'm sure others here can give a far more informed opinion.

Take this for what it's worth (which is nothing basically) but if you see either of those deer on the first day, shoot it, I don't think you will be disappointed. There is always a bigger buck, and seeing it cross the road or up on the mountain as you pack out a buck like that should not discount your trophy at all. Those are beautiful bucks and I'd be happy to have opportunities at bucks like that for the rest of my life.
 
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CrossCreeks

Veteran member
Mar 6, 2014
1,023
0
Dover, Tennessee
Both are nice bucks, I am guessing the 1st one might be around 155-160 he has some mass and his points are uniform in length but it hard to tell without a side view, the second does have good forks but it weak on the front maybe 150. Just a stab at it ! Thanks for the pictures no matter what they score they get the adrenaline flowing.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
Shoot either and be happy, or another and be happy...

Very tough to judge for me for several reasons. Velvet bucks look bigger than they are, especially in mass and width, to me anyway. Limited views of the antlers, especially for the first one. I suspect both are very good and honorable bow trophies. If I had a bow tag, in a unit as you describe, I'd be happy with either, very very very happy.

When I see almost a straight horizontal line over the tips of the G2,3,4, I get very interested, doubly so if the buck is tall with deep forks. Buck one seems to have 2 of the 3, at least to my eye, not a real tall rack I am guessing. Buck one, to me, meets your 150-160+ criteria. Buck two, I do not think is as good. As in all things, I can be, and am probably wrong.

What is very exciting is you are seeing very good bucks and will have a tag in your pocket to chase em. Good luck!