Big Buck 411 Blog

What a Difference a Year Makes

What a Difference a Year Makes

By Mike Handley

Mature bucks' antlers might grow half an inch or more a day during the spring and summer months, but that doesn't mean they'll double in size from one year to the next. After all, unless they're on the downswing, whitetails have to regrow what was shed (or something similar) before adding mass, length or extra points.

That wasn't the case with a south Georgia buck in 2013, however.

The deer never shed its 2012 rack, which means all new growth - nearly 100 inches - sprouted from the crown it was already wearing.

Mikell (pronounced Michael) Fries would've been elated to arrow the distinctive whitetail in 2012. Not only had the 38-year-old bowhunter never taken a deer in velvet, but the 135-inch rack was also much larger than average for Evans County, Ga.

He first became aware of this buck from a trail camera photograph, when it was a slick 4x4. Though he tried, he never encountered it afield.

You can imagine how much more determined he was when he saw photos of it in 2013 - every day during the week leading up to the bow opener - after that same 8-point frame had grown another 18 irregular points.

His chance came on Oct. 16, and he made his shot count.

The 26-pointer is a new Peach State compound bow record (among Irregulars, in velvet). It's also No. 6 in the world among similarly configured whitetails.

The story of Mikell's hunt will appear in Rack magazine this fall. Its BTR composite score is 231 7/8 inches.

Braggin’ Board

Send your 2014 big buck photos to mhandley@buckmasters.com. Please include hunter’s name, where the animal was hunted, and its score (if known). Remember: The BTR has no drying period.

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