Aging a buck

[Fairgame]

How old do you believe this buck is? Does the sway back make him more than 3.5 years old?

[burmjohn]

Good gut too!

What throws me off a little is the neck, but thats not a good shot to see the neck.. The back / belly makes it look like a 4.5 to me, but I'm a newbie at guessing these ages.

[Fairgame]

John this buck is only a mile across the woods from you

[burmjohn]

John this buck is only a mile across the woods from you

I'll text you when its down Oct 1st, and we can look at the teeth together.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I am saying...he is old enough...lol.

Brisket...Belly...hams...at least 3.5.

[burmjohn]

Looks like a potential 10 pointer, wonder if that other point will grow out a bit and be a little more pronounced.

[Fairgame]

Don't know it was taken end of july. We will see if he sticks around

[phade]

This one is interesting. Several signs point to a mature buck, but I'm not overly convinced that 3.5 can be ruled out.

The brisket is solid, small sag in back and belly, but it is not pronounced. I wouldn't venture over 4.5...but I also think he could be less than that.

Usually 3.5 look like a race horse build. A couple extra photos would help.

Edited August 6, 2012 by phade

[nyslowhand]

Need a size reference, like an arrow sticking in him. LOL

[phade]

Need a size reference, like an arrow sticking in him. LOL

Ground check, aisle three!

[Fairgame]

Sorry I don't have any other pics of him. He is on a nearby property. The pic was sent to me. I will see if they have any other pics

[SplitG2]

Looks like a 3 1/2.

[nyantler]

That buck has all the characteristics of a mature buck... at least 3.5

[Dom]

That buck has all the characteristics of a mature buck... at least 3.5

No he is not 3.5 he is nine did'nt you count his point's/tine's.Just kidding he is a nice one.Goodhunting.

[nyantler]

LOL

[nyantler]

Good gut too!

What throws me off a little is the neck, but thats not a good shot to see the neck.. The back / belly makes it look like a 4.5 to me, but I'm a newbie at guessing these ages.

This time of year the neck is not the best indicator.. but the chest any belly on this buck are a dead give away. Anything beyond 3.5 is hard to tell even for the non-newbie.

[burmjohn]

I know this is a REALLY crappy picture. I was from my cell phone, with my 1 year old in my arms, through a window. You can barely make out the antlers if you zoom in a bit, but the body on this thing was huge. Pretty sure it was a basket 8.

(one on the left)

[NY Trophy Hunter]

3.5

[WNY Bowhunter]

He's at least a 3 year old. I don't have much faith in being able to accurately age an unknown deer just by looking at a photo of them as photos can be very deceptive/mis-leading...

[WNYBuckHunter]

3.5 maybe a 4.5, but Im leaning on a great 3.5 year old. His legs just look a little longish for a 4.5 year old or beter deer to me.