Cull Deer

[Yotehntr]

I am not great at determining a deers age on the hoof.  Is this deer a young deer (2.5 or less) with good potential or an older deer (2.5+) that will never be anything?  He looks good body size but the rack is messed up.  If these are bad genes then i will put him on the list for someone to take.  I have a picture of him in velvet and then he showed up last week at my stand again.  I have not seen him in person.

[monkeyman2269]

1.5 year old his racks fine actually above average for a 1.5

[beachpeaz]

I dunno about that.  He is has an awfully grey face.  He could be an old deer.

[Carbonelement]

1.5 all day

[BUCKANDAQUARTER]

You are right his face is awfully grey and his snout is pretty long. Huh.

[Steve7]

My thought is he is on the downward trend...  looks aged for sure

[chiefbkt]

I shot a 2.5 year old that was completely grey, so I don't think you can judge a deer by its hair color.  I would say that deer is 1.5-2.5 at the oldest.  Doesn't show any of the old fart deer characteristics, at least to me. 

[Early]

Interesting to see/hear the differing opinions here, isn't it? And, yet, those doing the opining are dead certain they are correct! Deer hunters may be among the great bull artists of the world. (I am no exception.)

[two 10s]

Just by looking at his chest, I would say he's young. From my experience, the starts to get lower than the belly as they age.

[monkeyman2269]

An old buck usually won't regress to that small of a rack

[sampotter]

No such thing as a cull buck.

[Hock3y24]

Give him another year and check him out

[DROpTINE]

I think he's a very healthy 1.5. Body doesn't look that big to be considered an older deer in my book

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[WNYBuckHunter]

1 1/2. Look at the body on it. Long legs, lack of front shoulder/chest development, hind quarters taller than shoulders. Easy one to age.

 

Grey face? Come on. Deer markings are all slightly different.

 

You will never affect the genetics of a wild herd. Cull schmull.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I dunno about that.  He is has an awfully grey face.  He could be an old deer.

go with body characteristics. color variation can be other than age.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

1.5 all day long

[Yotehntr]

Thanks Guys!  He'll get the pass from us this year and we will check him out on camera next year if someone else doesn't pop him during the gun season.

[nyantler]

I dunno about that.  He is has an awfully grey face.  He could be an old deer.

The color of a deers face has nothing to do with age

[nyantler]

Interesting to see/hear the differing opinions here, isn't it? And, yet, those doing the opining are dead certain they are correct! Deer hunters may be among the great bull artists of the world. (I am no exception.)

I am dead certain I'm correct. The buck is 1.5 and in pretty good shape as well

 

Edited November 6, 2013 by nyantler