I heard a really good question today. If a two year old buck is an 8 pointer, he will always be an 8 pointer. Is this true, guess I never heard that one before. If this is true, how do these non-typicals get their drop tines an/or other kickers.
I would say no, not always true. I know I have read research on a buck that was a fork for 4 years before he grew a nice 5×5 frame. There are many things that determine a bucks rack. Genetics, health, age, food availability and types of food are probably the biggest. That 2.5 year old buck could easily throw another point or 2 on, with increased minerals, food supply etc. Those extra points could come from a 5×5 frame or kickers or drops. Remember a deer is not considered mature by biologists until 5.5 years old. My answer is: NO, not always the case. IMO. 
Great Question, though!
That is not true at all. I hope the 2 1/2 year olds running our property are 8 pointers. They all seem to get bigger with age. The biggest thing is deer need to age to get bigger racks in the North.
There was a great study done on 1 1/2 year old bucks. They followed a group of 1 1/2 year old bucks for 5 1/2 years. In the end, all the racks were nice, some nice than others. Eventually the spikes caught up with the forks. Those little “basket racks” 6’s and 8’s at a year and a half ended up being the best genetics out of the group.
I will dig up that study one of these days.
It did not sound right to me either. See if that study says anything about a 3 or 4 year old 8 pointer. Good input Lip and Scott, thanks.
I always thought genetics, only played in the “style” of the rack, in other words, forker, or potential for more. I thought, size and mass and drop tines, were dictated by the available nutrients. I am no scientist though …. 
big g 
That would mean a 16 pointer is when the buck was 1 1/2 to 2 1/2, Don’t happen. It takes a few years for a buck to reach his full potential. 2 1/2 up too 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 is when hes prime then he will attain that size by putting on more tines every year if hes going too. A 4 or an 8 pointer isn’t always a 4 or and 8 if hes goin to grow more tines, some stay 4’s, 6’es and 8’s and alot put on more tines.
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I heard a really good question today. If a two year old buck is an 8 pointer, he will always be an 8 pointer.
I’ve heard that also. But what I understood is that once the buck is “mature” the points will stay at the same count but the rack will increase in size as it ages.
What I read was that as a “general rule” (true for 90% of the population…) a whitetail buck has all of his typical points at 2.5 yrs of age. A mainframe 8 should remain a mainframe 8(in most instances) for life – even though he may end up being a 10, 12, or more counting stickers, droptines, forks, etc…..
Sounded feasible to me I guess……
Tim
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I’ve heard that also. But what I understood is that once the buck is “mature” the points will stay at the same count but the rack will increase in size as it ages.
I can find some truth in this statement, but remember “Mature” does not happen until 5.5 years of age
I could see if you said “typical” points, but I can show you some 2 1/2 year old Forks that we have that seem to grow REALLY slow for some reason.
They were a spike year one, a fork with small brows year two and end up 8’s by 4 1/2. Poor Genetics I guess, plenty of food.
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