Yes, yearlings can have racks with 8 or even more points.
QUESTION: My son recently shot his first deer. It had a small 8-point rack but only weighed 125 pounds dressed. That’s about the same weight as spikes and fork-horns I’ve shot. I’m wondering if this was some sort of runt or mutant deer. What are your thoughts?
ANSWER: Although rare, runt or pygmy deer do occasionally occur, usually due to some genetic mutation. However, it is far more likely in your instance that it was simply a yearling buck (1 1/2 years old).
As most hunters know, antler size and configuration are influenced primarily by age, genetics and nutrition. With good feed and the right genetics, it’s not uncommon for yearling bucks to sport 6 or even 8 points. I’ve killed a few myself. If you happened to save the jawbone, you could consult a deer aging chart to confirm.
Yearling deer have all six teeth – three premolars and three molars. If the jaw has six teeth and the third premolar has three cusps, it’s a yearling. If the third premolar has two cusps, look at the last cusp of the third molar (last tooth in the jaw). If this cusp is not fully erupted, it is a yearling.
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