Age This Buck

[WNYBuckHunter]

So heres another one, but this time I know how old this deer is. Take your best guesses based on the pics. Dates are correct.

 

[wmig2]

I'm guessing 3.5 yrs. old

[grampy]

The first two picks looks like a one year old with the long legs and compact body.  The third pic looks a lot older almost like a different deer. In that pic his chest is wide and legs look shorter. His body in that pic is filled out and I'm guessing a three year old. But since it is the same deer I'll split the difference and call it a two year old. I'm never right aging pic's of deer so what do I know!....lol

[WNYBuckHunter]

I assure you, its the same buck. The last pic is from a 3 shot series , but is the best body pic from that set. Im looking for more pics of this guy, I know I have some more somewhere.

 

Once I end up unblocking the rack youll see its the same deer.

[wmig2]

The first two picks looks like a one year old with the long legs and compact body.  The third pic looks a lot older almost like a different deer. In that pic his chest is wide and legs look shorter. His body in that pic is filled out and I'm guessing a three year old. But since it is the same deer I'll split the difference and call it a two year old. I'm never right aging pic's of deer so what do I know!....lol

I would have to agree. I don't think the top two pics are the same deer as the bottom picture. The bottom buck  pictured appears to be a 3.5 yr. old and the top two pictures appear to be a 2.5 yr. old.

[chrisw]

4 years, 5 months and 13 days..... +/- 1 year.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

[dbHunterNY]

those pictures sure do make it difficult.  I'd go with 2.5 yr old for those.  depth of body too much for yearling but still seems even enough from front to back to be consistent with a 2.5 yr old.  jacked up rear end and long legs typical of a 2.5 yr old.  base of the neck doesn't appear to be hitting that low on the chest.  I agree the last photo looks like a beefed up deer but it's a difficult photo.  can't see neck, legs blend in to forest floor, and can't see overall broadsided profile to tell mass and depth of body from front to back.  not the best photos for judging without knowing more to the story.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Nope, not the easiest pics, but its all there minus the back line if you really look.

 

Check the dates and youll see why hes so much beefier looking in the last one.

[dbHunterNY]

yea the 21 days and right into the peak activity of the rut.  it looks like he might be have some depth in the front but I'm still going with 2.5 with the photos being all I've got and cautiously judging to the younger side of things.

[LET EM GROW]

legs look a little lengthy like a 2.5, he has the race horse look to his body, bigger chest not as big in the gut area in the first 2 pics... 3rd pic being pre rut and jacked up a bit, torn between 2.5 & 3,5.... 3.5 final answer 

[WNYBuckHunter]

So...no more guesses on this one then?

 

This one is a 4 1/2. Its the buck I called Hooks, and he was killed opening day of gun this year. I have pics of him as a 2 1/2 from 2 years ago. He has a very distinct curved brow tine on the left side that has been there since he was 2.

 

When I first checked and saw the first 2 pics, I thought it was a young deer too, until I really started looking at him. Ive had a few guys pick him off at 4 from the pics, but most say 2 or 3. I even had one guy see the first two pics and say "eh, not bad" then saw the third and go gaga over it.

 

[WNYBuckHunter]

Here he is at 2 and then dead on opening day this year

[grampy]

That was fun! But as always, I never guess right when it comes to aging buck pic's. What the heck do I know.....lol

[chas0218]

Nice buck! You doing a score guess now? I am guessing 142" but definitely could be bigger tough to tell without something to gauge against the rack.

[grampy]

Sure is a nice pile of deer right there!

[WNYBuckHunter]

Im not good at guessing score

[dbHunterNY]

So...no more guesses on this one then?

 

This one is a 4 1/2. Its the buck I called Hooks, and he was killed opening day of gun this year. I have pics of him as a 2 1/2 from 2 years ago. He has a very distinct curved brow tine on the left side that has been there since he was 2.

 

When I first checked and saw the first 2 pics, I thought it was a young deer too, until I really started looking at him. Ive had a few guys pick him off at 4 from the pics, but most say 2 or 3. I even had one guy see the first two pics and say "eh, not bad" then saw the third and go gaga over it.

 

being the bucks you know in the area, your trail cam, your background, and seeing the whole first two pictures as a young deer, I feel better with royally screwing up the age.  2nd picture had me second and 3rd pictures had me second guessing.  3rd pic we hard to truly tell if the legs were really that short and he was really that big.  goes to show it takes lots of practice and/or more ideal pictures.  I know we say don't go by antlers but if he didn't grow a black box on his head I wouldn't have said 2.5 still.

[dbHunterNY]

I'm horrible at score.  I know some can judge the biggest bucks people get on trail cameras put up on forums because they shoot them all the time.  definitely not me though.

Edited December 21, 2015 by dbHunterNY

[Geno C]

I remember when you sent the pic of him from your stand lol

 

very nice buck

[WNYBuckHunter]

I remember when you sent the pic of him from your stand lol

 

very nice buck

 

That was a different one, I dont think I ever got a pic of this guy from my stand. Had encounters, but I was too busy trying to get a shot to get my phone out haha.

[Lawdwaz]

John, what did he weigh, dressed of course?

[WNYBuckHunter]

No clue

[Lawdwaz]

Who aged him?

[WNYBuckHunter]

I did, its based on knowing the buck, trail cam photos, etc.

[Lawdwaz]

OK, good.