Who are your eyes on in 2009? What bucks are you watching and for what reason? This is a 2 part question and answer so let's see what everyone is watching for and for what reasons.
I will start.
In no particular order:
Sudden Impact
I truly think if this deer can avoid neck injury and possible infection in the velvet, this deer may well break 500". I don't care how you feel about non-typicals vs typicals that would be a huge accomplishment for the industry. And how fitting that it would take place on one of the best farms in the country.
All the Rolex yearlings of last year.
Rolls Royce, T-Rex, TomEX, X-Factor, Rigid. These would be my favorites. Can any of these make the next jump without becoming to trashy?
Now we wait to see what Rolex daughters will do.
Shadow
We unfortunately won't get to see what Shadow will look like this year. I think that buck would have fixed that injured side and would have been huge. Instead we wait for his sons now. And from what I hear there are a couple of really big buttons already growing. I predict Shadow sons will be monsters in the next couple of years.
Legacy and Maxbo Ebenezer.
These two bucks along with Rolls Royce at the Walk farm have long tines on a good frame. Now let's see if everything stretches out for even longer tines and a bigger frame.
Nobel
He has a great look which is not news to anyone. But this year we should start to see some sons to see if he can throw it to the next generation. My understanding is he wasn't used in his younger years for breeding.
King James
A great looking yearling buck from a great looking sire. King James has the frame most of us want. Long tines, width, and sweeping beams. Now let's see what he does with it this year.
Ridgeline
I think this is one of the best bred Patrick line bucks in the country. Last summer he showed that like his father he can pass the bone on to his sons. The very few yearlings he had were off to a really good start. I am hoping there will be more yearlings to see this year. I am afraid this is one of those bucks that is being over looked and by the time people catch on it will be too late.
Tonto
Another buck with Patrick in it is Tonto. Like Avalanche Tonto is passing it on to the kids. Last years 2 year olds looked super on the Pierce farm. I look forward to seeing if Matrix can rebound at 4, and what bucks like Lakota and Outcross will do at 3.
WRW Rex
This Highroller son last year had a look that just made you stop in your tracks. Out of a Jack the Ripper doe he carries the ability to pack on the bone. And somehow he put it all together for a super look. This year he will turn 4. What kind of jump could we see from 3 to 4 years old?
Rancher
A buck from a little known farmer in MI has a fantastic look at 2 years old. Scoring 236" and sporting what looks like a 6x6 mainframe with looong tines. Here is another buck worth watching.
Grizzly
Amazing at 1, even better at 2. At this point I don't care what he does at 3 as long as he is as big. Now it is his sons we all watch for. Being a big boy at 1 he was no doubt used a fair amount as a yearling. I am truly excited to see his yearling sons this Sept. Lots of tines mostly going up. And long tines at that. Super mass for a young buck. And don't over look that pedigree, it is all there and will fit with just about any bloodline.
Maximus DT
Another buck we won't see grow out this year. But his sons have already shown they have what it takes to grow big. I will be watching for more sons this summer. I really screwed up when I didn't use some more of the semen last fall
Maxbo Hardcore
A huge frame and a great pedigree top and bottom. Sharing the same mother as Maximus DT, CR, Solidcore, Encore, and Mastbo, I think that little Flees doe has proven that passdown isn't just a catchy phrase. I don't know what yearling sons he might have coming up this year, but I am excited to see what any he has might look like.
The next buck might not be on your list but he surly is on mine.
Updraft
Son of Big Guy and a deeply bred Flees doe, his pedigree is second to none in the industry. He carried over 39" of mass, and had long beams. He had what I think was a great look for a yearling buck. We gave him a couple of does and he backed up some of the a/i does. I really wouldn't be too sad if some of the a/i didn't work
I look forward to seeing everyone else's list.
