Thread: Age Please

Very good looking immature buck. I'd guess 2 1/2 years.
1. Great rack but not tremendouse mass. (In velvet)
2. Neck hasn't grown to match his chest.
3. Back still very flat.
4. No noticeable pot belly.
5. Hind quarters not filled out.

If he reaches 5 or 6 he will be huge.

I'm no expert, but I agree this is a fairly young deer. But will be hard to pass up come hunting season unless your overrun with great bucks in your area

Originally Posted by KLS

I'm no expert, but I agree this is a fairly young deer. But will be hard to pass up come hunting season unless your overrun with great bucks in your area

Not overrun with great bucks but we normally have no problems passing younger deer (especially with a gun). We pass SEVERAL bucks every year. I am just not good at aging at this time of the year. Give it another month and I can get real close. I thought the buck I shot last year would be 3 but got some mixed opinions when I had the jawbone looked at. Some said 2, some said 3. It was like he was a "tweener", dropped late maybe. He was good enough though, he is on the wall as my biggest bow kill.

Originally Posted by callshy

Not overrun with great bucks but we normally have no problems passing younger deer (especially with a gun). We pass SEVERAL bucks every year. I am just not good at aging at this time of the year. Give it another month and I can get real close. I thought the buck I shot last year would be 3 but got some mixed opinions when I had the jawbone looked at. Some said 2, some said 3. It was like he was a "tweener", dropped late maybe. He was good enough though, he is on the wall as my biggest bow kill.

all my pre scouting and picture taking (some eleven cameras out on the lease)helps me decide what buck I will hunt for in any given year. unfortunately that generally goes out the window after about three or four days, because all the bucks have suddenly become super "stealthy" and after that I will be lucky to see any decent buck, so my resolve dissipates. So I say to you, BULLY for you, to not lose your resolve and hold out for that BIG buck. GOOD LUCK

Scott, they are all tweeners in the fall. That's because they are dropped in the spring.

Originally Posted by jigflinger

Scott, they are all tweeners in the fall. That's because they are dropped in the spring.

I meant between 2.5 and 3.5, sorry. Like he was dropped closer to the fall.

2.5, I have a hard time judging antlers til
The velvet is off. Give him about 3 more years and he will be a good one!

Got it, Scott. Also, research has shown that a fawn dropped a month late has a very poor chance for recruitment due to predation.