This guy appeared in great shape and was big and fat (guessing between 170 and 180 lbs live based on the 200 lb weight of the mature buck I shot earlier). I think the rut is often especially stressful for bucks without big racks. I really cannot see how to consistently avoid making this mistake once the racks start dropping. Our herd has lots of food including browse, crop residue, and alfalfa fields, but I have noticed earlier shed the last three years. I may put out 3 mineral blocks instead of just one next year. I just need to put them where I will never hunt. I think in the middle of the evergreen blocks would be perfect.
