I supposed this a question for a wildlife biologist.

What percentage of bucks in Alabama if left to grow and mature would reach that antler growth milestone? I think we’ve had this discussion before but I can’t remember.

A small percentage in my opinion.

I’d like to know too, I’ve killed some older ones that were nowhere close to 130, I would think a small percentage but some folks think they all will with age but I just don’t think so

Let me add this, everywhere I’ve ever hunted has a small percentage of main frame 10 points for some reason, I’ve only ever had pictures of 3 in 15-16 years of running trail cameras. It take a really good 8 pt to hit 130 but not so much with a decent 10

If people would pass the genetically superior 1 and 2 year olds, instead of killing them on sight, I’d guess about 20% at age 5. Deer are like people, some are just bigger than others. With the current long season and the, shoot any good rack buck you see regardless of age, typical mentality, I’d guess 5% actually make it to 130” here in AL. Most of the ones that have the genetics to make or break past the 130” threshold are killed as 1.5 or 2.5 yr olds. Naturally you’ll have more in better managed, good soil areas, with large landowners, but way less in small parcel dominated, poor soil, unmanaged areas.

I’ll also say this, I’m talking about legitimate, properly measured, 130” deer. Not the “my buddy killed a 130” buck”. I’ve put the tape on a bunch of bucks that the shooters thought were 130” and they were really 115-120” deer. A 130” buck is a really good deer.

I’d be interested to see what Brock, Troy, Jeremy and others think on this topic.

I vote less then 10% I’ve only had 3 maybe 4 on camera ever.

I don't have any data to back my guess up, but not a very high percentage. Maybe 15-20% IF they make it to five, depending on location. Way south Alabama with sandy soils on the low end and Bankhead or Montgomery area on the upper end. Soils make a lot of difference.

I've killed a good number of measured 130s over the years, a handful of 140s, and a very few over 150. I have also killed a good number of 5-7 year old bucks with lots of mass that wouldn't break 120.

Here is the answer, look what Ms., Ga. and La.

I sat through a presentation one time that had individual antler scores placed on a bell curve and it was quite surprising. The area wasn’t in AL, but it was in some of the most fertile soils of the south. I’ll just say this, those of you estimating 15-20% are likely in the ball park for most of AL. It will vary some depending on soil fertility.

As an official measurer for B&C I get to put my hands on a LOT of bucks. There’s tens of thousands of hunters in AL who grossly overestimate the scores on their bucks. I’ve have spent years trying to convince people in AL that a 120” is a good buck, a 130 is a great buck, and anything 140+ might very well be a buck of a lifetime to most hunters here. The problem with scores in AL is most don’t get the opportunity to express their potential. Most 3 year old bucks in AL are going to score 90-115”. The few that score higher than that are likely to get smoked. Those are your 140+ 5 year olds. You leave the 65-100” 3 year olds and they turn into the 115-120” 5 year olds. But truthfully, every deer on a 40,000 acre area in good soil can live to be fully mature and there’s a large percentage of them that will never break 130”. Although, there’s a bunch of folks who think they have a wall full of them. In reality, few people actually do. A quick score at the taxidermists or sitting on the tailgate is usually inflated by several inches over a true score using a cable and 1/4” steel tape.

I’m gonna go with around 20% as well.....…Most deer with the potential to be really big are shot young even on the good properties. Very few people are passing the 130-150 inch 4 year old.....With a couple more years of growth though you may be talking 170+ at age 6-7......

And I’ve seen several areas of the state decline drastically in antler scores over the last few years strictly due to poor habitat management and overpopulation. Areas that used to pump out some giants.

Good question Southwood and I don’t know answer - I would guess small%

I had 2 beautiful 10s on place last year - hav not seen them any in 2020 and it rare to get 10s on camera for me - my 3rd best from last year finally showed up once in Jan 2021 - he put on nice growth - he is a 9 - I think he 4 yr old now and wonder what he be like at 5 - I think he would be awesome at 5 (130s) but if my son sees him this weekend he dead cause he a dang good deer - I would love to see those 2 tens this year (one was 4 the other 5 in fall of 2019) - did they kill each other r somebody could hav shot - I clicked on 1 of the 10s last year (the 4 yr old I would hav mounted) - muzzleloader did not go off - if they were alive this year - I think they would b very exceptional- they could still be Alive - that’s what we really talkin about - what would the good deer look like if we let them get to 5 and 6 years old and what % would that b

If we let our nice or exceptional 3 and 4 year old deer walk - be interesting to see what they turn into at 5-7

A 130" buck in Alabama is like a 20 lb. bag of bass. The deer is actually 115" and the bag of bass is 15 lb.s.

They way I've been watching them hit the ground this year not sure there will be any around next year.

I had hoped the one i shot the other day would break 130, but looking at the deer in the other thread, dont think mine is gonna make it. #wouldabeenagoodunnextyear 🤷🏻‍♂️

Ain’t that the truth!!! My word the bucks are getting wore out.

Gman it’s still a very nice deer. Don’t get too caught up on score. He looks high 120s to me but could hit 130”.

Location location location

I have to disagree with you just a little bit. From what I’ve read, a 4 year old expresses 90% of antler growth. Now I’m sure that isn’t a hard and fast rule, but I do believe by 5 for sure, that is about all the deer is going to put on antler wise. May add some character, but don’t think they are gonna add many more inches

In my high fence, there are around 20 buck fawns that made to 6 months old. If four of those make it five years, I'll be happy. Two at most will become a superstar.