I got some nice videos on my trail cam I attached a snapshot help me decide to take or pass on this big bodied deer. Is he degenerating or just a freak left side this year.

i like shooting freak racked deer.  He couldv'e had an injury to his right side last year that affected his rack this year.  From the part of the body that you can see, he looks pretty healthy to me.

i would dust his butt for the simple reason he looks like his body is big and i think you are right, he either is malformed or is broke off but regardless he looks mature to me. If he had a matching side he would be 145ish. Good luck

I say give him another year if you don't have too much hunting pressure, but then if he walked under my stand, I might think differently  

BIG body, dust roll him!

Here is a body shot.

looks like he was injured in a previous year and now it's growing back malformed. I don't think he'll change next year.  Good luck with either choice.

I'd shoot him.

I don't get enough shot opportunities to be picky.

Hammertime!

I don't think his rack will ever be any better...unless it is broken.  It looks like a genetic problem to me. It is my understanding that the idea that an injury causing a weird growing rack is a myth. We had a buck hanging around our house that was either shot or  hit by a car. His right shoulder was broken and he made it thru the winter. His next year's rack was very symmetrical even though he always walked with a limp and his shoulder was obviously misshapen.

I don't think his rack will ever be any better...unless it is broken.  It looks like a genetic problem to me. It is my understanding that the idea that an injury causing a weird growing rack is a myth. We had a buck hanging around our house that was either shot or  hit by a car. His right shoulder was broken and he made it thru the winter. His next year's rack was very symmetrical.

That myth is true in some cases. Shot my biggest buck, on the ground, rattled in. Left side was a symmetrical 4 points.Looked like a nice 8pt. He had a left front club foot from a rifle wound the year before. His right side had 2 gnarly twisted points. Big body, very aggresive. I say shoot him, because he might not be that cool looking next year, if he makes it till then.

An injury could be the cause. It is my understanding (but trust me, my understanding is rather short lived most often) that a a deer with normal to high calcium levels grow average to nice racks. Theoretically, a mature deer with a skeletal injury could need the extra calcium and minerals to promote restrengthening and restructuring of the broken bones. Just saying..

He'll fry, that makes him an eater to me.

QuoteOriginally posted by Hoyt:
He'll fry, that makes him an eater to me.

x2 !!

i know what id do.  shoot!

I would pass. I have done this twice on a perfect rack only to have the buck shot during gun season but I am willing to take that risk. He does have a good body but I would rather see what happens with the rack. Shoot them long nose does, they present a challenge around our farm.

Dead on his feet!

Beauty is in in the eye of the bowholder. Do what feels right. I would let him walk and see what happened but I can say that cause he isn't ever gonna tempt me. Good luck with your choice.

Up where I hunt I can't afford to be picky as that might be the only deer I see.