Age this buck ;)

[heavuser]

This guy has been popping up since early September for me.

Last weekend my buddy saw him chase a 4 pointer down about 80yrds from his stand. That was the only daylight sighting of him. I only get him on the cams at night.

Some nights he will travel miles as he will pop up on one of my cams then 4-5 hours later he shows up on another about 1.5 miles away.

I scout about 2-3 times a week changing cameras trying to get him during the day.

Based on everything I've seen on camera this guy is extremely intelligent and knows how to survive. Lately he has not shown up on any of my cams, I believe he's changed his main patterns because of the rut.

How old do you think this thick necked boy is?

[NYRturkeycall]

Wow, he's nice. 4-4 1/2 my guess.

[SpacemanSpiff]

He is definitely not a youngster thats for sure. In the first picture he doesn’t have that big ol roman nose. Probably a nice 4 year old. Hard to say however. 

Edited November 4, 2022 by SpacemanSpiff

[First-light]

4.5 I think. Good luck, what a challenge!

[Chef]

4.5 would be a good guess….. and by god this time of year…. Stay out of those woods when you aren’t hunting


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[SpacemanSpiff]

8 minutes ago, Chef said:

4.5 would be a good guess….. and by god this time of year…. Stay out of those woods when you aren’t hunting


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I thought the same…

[LET EM GROW]

solid 4.5-5.5 yr old. If you are looking to kill mature bucks, your best interest is to stay out of those woods and do not go in unless your hunting, then you can carefully pull or move a cam. The key to killing  a home body buck is to keep all pressure off your property and only hunt when its right.. 

[E J]

Agree with everyone else 4.5 or older. Bucks can definitely change ranges during the rut or even from year to year. I hope he swings back through while your out hunting. 

[heavuser]

Thanks for the age guesses and advice everyone!

Edited November 4, 2022 by heavuser

[mowin]

 Where I hunt, both landowners let people walk their properties during archery season. Some with dogs.  

Most will limit the walks to mid day because of hunting season, and some stop completely, but some just don't care. The deer are so used to people walking.  I've watched deer leave the fields only to return a few minutes later after the people are out of sight. Most only walk the field edges, but some do walk the trails.  Once rifle starts, property is off limits to people walking. I've had to remind several over the yrs about the rules. Some told me they didn't care about what I said, they have permission. They learned quickly. 

[heavuser]

33 minutes ago, mowin said:

 Where I hunt, both landowners let people walk their properties during archery season. Some with dogs.  

Most will limit the walks to mid day because of hunting season, and some stop completely, but some just don't care. The deer are so used to people walking.  I've watched deer leave the fields only to return a few minutes later after the people are out of sight. Most only walk the field edges, but some do walk the trails.  Once rifle starts, property is off limits to people walking. I've had to remind several over the yrs about the rules. Some told me they didn't care about what I said, they have permission. They learned quickly. 

 

It's public over here, I get people on cam every few days :/

But the big boy still hands around.

[UpStateRedNeck]

Agree with 4, no Roman nose, or giant belly sag.  Nice flat back he's completely filled out and in the prime of his life. 

[dbHunterNY]

28 minutes ago, heavuser said:

It's public over here, I get people on cam every few days :/

But the big boy still hands around.

it's because he has somewhere to go during the day. find out where.

[heavuser]

6 minutes ago, dbHunterNY said:

it's because he has somewhere to go during the day. find out where.

Exactly, this is what I've been trying to do. 

I thought I was close when my friend saw him chase a 4 pointer but he disappeared again after that.

[BizCT]

4.5, but cementum is the truth

[dbHunterNY]

definitely 4.5 and i'm leaning harder toward 5.5. fully developed rectangular frame front to back. i get the tight belly and straight back but the second picture comes off as older than 4.5 yrs old.  boxy frame and camel like neck with a shoulder hump. it depends on food, but not all deer have access to load up on say ag to get that gut and sagging back at 5.5. in kentucky last year i had a similar buck that believed to be 5.5 yrs old by some pretty knowledgeable folks, that are specifically whitetail biologists. looks very similar.

[UpStateRedNeck]

It's going to a leeward ridge, or some CRP where he can see anything coming at him and smell upwind.