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Help me choose.

Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
For the first time in my life I can say I won a raffle! I was sitting with my buddy Travis of freedom whitetails at his booth at the Kevin grace sale last Friday and a man named Travis (can't think of last name at the moment) stopped by the booth and ask us if we wanted any tickets for a chance to win a choice yearling buck off Bentley's whitetails in KY. The tickets were $20 a chance or (if I remember correctly) 3 for $50 or 7 for $100. I bought a single chance, to be honest I stuck the stub in my wallet and forgot I even bought it within 5 minutes of him leaving the booth as I figured just like every other time I buy tickets for anything I would just lose anyway. However I was honored to buy because I can never turn down another hardworking deer farmer request for support.

While the name was to be drawn at the end of the auction, but Travis and I had a four hour drive ahead of us and we skipped out early when it was down to the last 30 lots or so. While then my phone rings on the drive home, not reconizing the number I hoped it was a shooter buyer calling me back. Boy was I ever surprised and excited to get the news that I was the lucky winner of the yearling!

I don't know if Travis, or Randell from Bentley whitetails get on here at all, but again thanks guys! I am truely grateful to be the winner.

I got the pictures of the yearlings this week and now I get my choice. These are some seriously nice choices, I am honored to pick one of these boys. I don't know pedigrees yet, and to be honest I don't care, look what's on their heads already!

Just for fun guys, please let me know your favorite. I only get one choice but I feel I will be fine with any of these four, I may even bred my choice to a few does once I see the pedigree's. Here are the four I narrowed it down to.
 
Number 1 what a look for a yearling!
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Number 2 he may be banged up now, but he will get straightened up next year, look at the tines on him
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Number 3 I am going to guess most of you would pick this guy if you were in my situation. For obvious reasons.
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Number 4 is my prediction for the highest scoring of all of them next year as a two year old. He should definately push 200" at 2
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I like 1 and then 3... would need to see pedigrees.... I know u said it doesn't matter to you, but that would certainly influence my decision for future predictability.  CONGRAGTS BUDDY!
 
If you won a $20 choice yearling, would you go for highest score potential as a stocker next year, or just plain beauty and potential breeder? Wow, what an unfortunate position I am in :) ok I will quit rubbing it in now, lol.
 
Great job man!  I would go with 1 or 2 if i only had a choice by look this year. I dont care so much for rack's that turn in. Pedigree would seal the deal. Congrats!
 
Pedigree will of course matter, I meant I was impressed regardless. I will get pedigrees, just don't have them yet. Just photos for now, thanks for the imput so far.
 
#3 main beam length is the most important peace of the puzzle when it comes to antler building and breeding. If you are looking for more main frame points later pick the one with the longest g-4s. I like the straighter tines on #1 but the unmatched main beam curve is a hint and will become more pronounced as he ages. He will probably become much more unbalanced. Just because one scores more doesn't mean the preserve will pay you more.

congrats!
 
look at their pedigrees


I have a 2yo that as a yearling was maybe in the top 5 out of 20.  This year he is bottom 5 as a 2yo. 


It was a deal where I gave 4 does and got two buck fawns.  He wanted me to take two fawns he already had on the gound for the trade.  So this buck was not out of one of our does but a nice buck.  The doe was definitely not as good bred as the does that he got. 


Moral of the story, look at the pedigree first!!!!!! :D :D


 


LOL we are breeding a banjo son to a few does that does not have any more than a little gun rack on his head.  Why?????  his pedigree and what his 2yo half brother was this year.  Might be a mistake but I bet not.  You never know with yearlings.  That's why it is risky breeding with them.  
 
Great job man! I would go with 1 or 2 if i only had a choice by look this year. I dont care so much for rack's that turn in. Pedigree would seal the deal. Congrats!



Agreed!!!
 
If I was hoping for a breeder it would be #3.


If you are going for a early shooter and inches of horn. I would pic #4.


With what looks to be a bunch of inches in the G1 area kickers on the G2s and split G3s .


He is sure to pay off the fastest.


Brent
 
3 looks best to me, 4 would be my next choice because he looks like he'll have a nice frames and tines may lay outwards slightly.  I prefer a flat frame with tines leaning out.  If you've got strong typicals I would go with him for a few extra's if I had a more non typical line I would go with 3 to clean up a bit. 
 
After looking and thinking about it im still going with four. Feed for one year and the biggest 2yr old in the bunch. Quick turn on the $20 investment lol