2018Nov11 3:30am. Watch video below of this nocturnal brute. Heavy body. He is now #2 shooter.
2018 Bucks on Film - description of your four shooters are listed below this collage
2018 Buck Collage from late velvet to full rack
#1 Shooter 2018 - "The CrabClaw Buck" made it through last season. This year he's sporting a wicked drop-tine on the left side. Last year's sticker, pictured in last year's velvet below, is now a sharp forward-facing dagger. This is one wise noctural buck! He even backs away from cameras once he spots them. No chance of taking him until correct moon during late December bow season, unluss he screws up during rut of rifle season.
#1 Shooter = droptime 2018 on left, 2017 on right shows massive pedicles
#1 Non-Shooter 2018 (Let'EmGrow) - "The Tan9or10" is the lightest colored buck on property. A young buck with great potential. I would pass, but others might see him as their trophy buck. Would be a handsome shoulder mount. Main beam is wider than his ears. Might be 4x3 on main beam? Only have one on camera passing close by Isabel's ground blind last week. Pedicals, his base at skull, show he has major room for increased mass next year.
The bottom half of the picture is "The Bent G2" buck. Small 9pt. Let 'em Pass!
#2 not a Shooter, "The Goose" = nice 10pt w/ tan coat. Below is "bent" G2 that I say "Let 'em grow"
#2 Shooter 2018 - "Saggy10" (top right in the image below) This 5 1/2 year-old 10pt has a visible belly sag, dark tarsal staining, with a thick 20+ spread on main beam that easily extends beyond his ears. Symmetry on G2, G3, G4. See videos below where he walks into view from the right side of frame.
#2 Non-Shooter 2018 (Let'EmGrow) - "TW8" This 4 1/2 year-old is a "Tall & Wide 8" (image below at bottom, center)
Do not confuse him with the "Twins" (image below on left top and left bottom), a pair of 3 1/2 yr-old 8 point basket-rack bucks, with equally tall G2 and G3. The twins need another couple of years to mature. Right now, you can see that their ears extend out farther than their main beams when viewed head-on or facing away,
Compare them all on the videos below.
2018 June - Isabel's Meadow full of Winter Rye was the hot spot for does. The plot was tilled and resown very late with Winter Peas and White Clover. As a result, everything is under 4 inches tall as of October 6th and the does are munching down the new growth as they pass.