Age this one

[moog5050]

Lots of talk about aging deer.  I think I am OK at it but this one had me second guessing. Mid rut and in an area where deer are generally small bodied as it's all browse. No reall ag close by. 

 

 

 

 

[growalot]

31/2  tops but I am still leaning to 21/2 , doesn't look to be a lot of mass,angle but flow to brisket seems to fall a bit higher then brisket, head seems a tad narrow to be very old.

[moog5050]

Yep. The debate was 2 or 3.  For this area, I thinks it's a small 3 but I can't convince myself.  

[grampy]

If I shot it, 3 years old. If my buddy shot it 2 years old.

[E J]

 I would guess 3 1/2 coming from a non ag area.

[wolc123]

2-1/2

[The_Real_TCIII]

As old as he would ever be if he stepped in my lane. Unless I missed which is not uncommon. Then I'd say I passed on him

[moog5050]

My buddy what was looking to shoot a 3yr filmed him for 5min and texted it to us while we told him to shoot.  He passed him. 

[stubby68]

I would say 2.5. Could be a  well fed 1.5 around here. As grow said his neck and brisket do not meet right for more then 2.5. His legs and nose just do not have the structure for more and the real isn't a lot of mass showing yet. But like I have said before it is only a guess from a pic. If he was on the ground in our hands it could be a whole different story.

[moog5050]

Definitely not a 1.5 around here

[ncountry]

Had a hard time choosing between 2 1/2  or 3 1/2..I am thinking 2 1/2 .  70% confident. 

[The_Real_TCIII]

Regardless of what he was this year he should be a slammer next year, I hope you get a look at him

[dbHunterNY]

16 hours ago, stubby68 said:

I would say 2.5. Could be a  well fed 1.5 around here. As grow said his neck and brisket do not meet right for more then 2.5. His legs and nose just do not have the structure for more and the real isn't a lot of mass showing yet. But like I have said before it is only a guess from a pic. If he was on the ground in our hands it could be a whole different story.

please let me know what WMU you are hunting free ranging whitetail in, that would have well fed 1.5 yr olds that big.  I'm abandoning all my spots and hunting there.  damn you guys are blessed.

[moog5050]

20 minutes ago, dbHunterNY said:

please let me know what WMU you are hunting free ranging whitetail in, that would have well fed 1.5 yr olds that big.  I'm abandoning all my spots and hunting there.  damn you guys are blessed.

Buffalo Co, WI

[dbHunterNY]

I think it's 2.5 yrs old.  even runts develop their just a different size.  i think lack of natural, quality, browse stunts deer more than lack of temporary high quality food like ag.  i think a deer is always playing the catch up game more in that situation.  browse i think makes up most of their diet and in better soil regions it's carrying more nutrients.

[dbHunterNY]

6 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

Buffalo Co, WI

vacation time a problem.  Family priorities.  Disney World should move there.

[moog5050]

12 minutes ago, dbHunterNY said:

I think it's 2.5 yrs old.  even runts develop their just a different size.  i think lack of natural, quality, browse stunts deer more than lack of temporary high quality food like ag.  i think a deer is always playing the catch up game more in that situation.  browse i think makes up most of their diet and in better soil regions it's carrying more nutrients.

My buddy thought 2.5 and watched him for quite a while.  Good news, we may very well see him again this year, just a bit bigger.

[stubborn1VT]

"Big" 2.5 year old.  He just doesn't have the bulk of a 3 year old. Nice deer for sure.  He must be getting what he needs to have that much antler development.  Based on that, I would expect a bigger body.

[chas0218]

Looks like this one with lots of AG and I would say the same 2 1/2.

 

Here is a little better picture.

Edited April 7, 2017 by chas0218

[moog5050]

19 minutes ago, chas0218 said:

Looks like this one with lots of AG and I would say the same 2 1/2.

 

Here is a little better picture.

Now this guy looks like a clear 2.5 although good one to me

[ncountry]

1 hour ago, chas0218 said:

Looks like this one with lots of AG and I would say the same 2 1/2.

 

Here is a little better picture.

This is what I  can more easily identify as a 2.5 year old.  

[growalot]

I like the following link ,not only because it gives the age,but close ups of the head and face...

http://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/galleries/photo-gallery-from-buttons-to-booner

[stubby68]

2 hours ago, dbHunterNY said:

please let me know what WMU you are hunting free ranging whitetail in, that would have well fed 1.5 yr olds that big.  I'm abandoning all my spots and hunting there.  damn you guys are blessed.

           I hunt 9n  plenty of forage and lots of ag. We see very few spikes fork horns or anything smaller then 6 points.if we record 4 bucks smaller then a 6 in one year that's it. I'm not talking the whole unit just my little corner. But like I have said judging from a pic is just guessing. Look at the buck Chas posted the neck line meets the brisket a lot nicer then the other one also the nose as some shape to it not as narrow as the first buck. And I would call chases buck a 2.5.

             If there is no way that buck   is a 1.5 the most of the bucks born on and around me are born as 2.5 and we have no 1.5 year olds. Sorry if you do not see bucks like this but just because you don't does not mean I dont. Size  comes from more then just age. What they have to eat and where they live has a lot to do with it as well. A well fed animal will be bigger then a poorly fed one. Why is it so hard to believe that could be a 1.5? Is it just because he has more then 3 little points?

[growalot]

I'm thinking a 1 1/2 , spindly just barely out to ears...his sway belly could just be due to local eats, apples too ...high jaw line...

Edited April 7, 2017 by growalot

[growalot]

Well I was looking through my 1 1/2 pics ..to be honest so many I couldn't choose from spikes to 8's, a whole lot of 6's ...But while looking and yes the date is correct...I came across this...do you see it..I almost missed it it's so tiny