Lets Age Some 8 Points

[Robhuntandfish]

so how old is this one?   

[nodeerhere]

I'm going to guess 3.5 however he might be older I'm thinking 

[Robhuntandfish]

this was him 2016 

 

no pics yet for 2018 but hoping!  

[moog5050]

2 hours ago, Robhuntandfish said:

so how old is this one?   

Those stubby legs and barrel of a body - he is older.  Ignore the rack.  That's a tank of an old buck.

[Robhuntandfish]

7 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

Those stubby legs and barrel of a body - he is older.  Ignore the rack.  That's a tank of an old buck.

this will be my third year chasing him if he is still around.  So i was thinking he s a 5.5 this year.  

[moog5050]

2 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

this will be my third year chasing him if he is still around.  So i was thinking he s a 5.5 this year.  

That buck would get more excited than some with bigger racks and a small body.  He is a quality buck!  Good luck!

[BowmanMike]

9 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

this will be my third year chasing him if he is still around.  So i was thinking he s a 5.5 this year.  

Yeah,that is a beauty. I hope he is still around. He looks real chunky...

[The_Real_TCIII]

Thats an absolute moose

[jperch]

3 hours ago, Robhuntandfish said:

so how old is this one?   

Old enough!  Did you ever get any daytime pictures of him?

jperch

[Robhuntandfish]

Just now, jperch said:

Old enough!  Did you ever get any daytime pictures of him?

jperch

Lol.  Not a damn one.  That's why we nicknamed him the "Dark Knight" 

Last year I had deer in the freezer early and hunted just for this big boy and one other 9 point on another property.  Tried rattling during the rut, hoping to bring him out once.  No way.  

I passed a nice 7 point and got close twice to the 9 on the other property but have never seen this boy on the hoof.  And probably never will but I like knowing he's around.  

[jperch]

2 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

Lol.  Not a damn one.  That's why we nicknamed him the "Dark Knight" 

Last year I had deer in the freezer early and hunted just for this big boy and one other 9 point on another property.  Tried rattling during the rut, hoping to bring him out once.  No way.  

I passed a nice 7 point and got close twice to the 9 on the other property but have never seen this boy on the hoof.  And probably never will but I like knowing he's around.  

I guess that's how a buck manages to turn into a horse like that.  Still, very nice to know there is one like that around.  Hope you get to lay eyes on him some day.

jperch

[Robhuntandfish]

Just now, jperch said:

I guess that's how a buck manages to turn into a horse like that.  Still, very nice to know there is one like that around.  Hope you get to lay eyes on him some day.

jperch

The neighbor properties all hunt as well, he must have a great spot to nap during the day.  And I'm betting it's probably downwind and within 100 yards of one of my stands.  Lol

Where we hunt it is thick and am guessing he has prob let me walk by him a time or two.  Need a real sexy doe to lure him out in the sunshine one time.  

Smart ole boy.   

[BowmanMike]

I would think one of the earliest does in heat might bring him out. My buddy saw a procession of nice bucks and one was at least 3.5 year old following the trail of a hot doe,that was late October last year. Of course they didn't quite come close enough...

[G-Man]

5 hours ago, Robhuntandfish said:

so how old is this one?   

a bad 4.5 or older

[G-Man]

1 hour ago, Robhuntandfish said:

Lol.  Not a damn one.  That's why we nicknamed him the "Dark Knight" 

Last year I had deer in the freezer early and hunted just for this big boy and one other 9 point on another property.  Tried rattling during the rut, hoping to bring him out once.  No way.  

I passed a nice 7 point and got close twice to the 9 on the other property but have never seen this boy on the hoof.  And probably never will but I like knowing he's around.  

that buck may not even breed. i firmly.believe some olde bucks just lay down inthe thick stuff and id a doe is there fine if not fine

[Robhuntandfish]

He went from an 8 to a 9 last year.  So he was at least still on the incline.  We got pics of him at scrape locations only.  So think he's still a little active.  Or at least hoping.  He's def the biggest deer ive seen body wise.  But usually the properties I hunt might have one real good one, lots of gun hunters around us on every side.  Not too many bow hunters though.  

[HuntOrBeHunted]

Nice looking deer. Be in that stand before noon lol. And good luck 

[dbHunterNY]

looks like all various 2.5 yr olds to me.  exception being the buck in the back in the 3rd picture Tacks posted. that buck is most likely 3.5 yrs old. i think the last buck Tacks posted is still a 2.5 yr old. it's a tough angle and can't see leg proportions, or head/ears proportion.  Separately, the one Rob posted is a trophy that happens to have small antlers. that buck is 5.5 yrs old all day.  give a natural age structure you should see more bucks in younger ages classes. makes sense. another thing to be careful of is times of the season. aging in velvet isn't really a great idea at all. then aging a buck in September will be very different than when it's fully jacked up come early November.

[dbHunterNY]

even young buck necks can look very stout when they're looking backwards or head down. an old buck will have tarsal staining even in september and then running right down the hocks during rut.

[BizCT]

I agree with many of you. 2.5’s in 2017 except that one 1.5. 2018 is 3.5


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[Robhuntandfish]

15 hours ago, dbHunterNY said:

looks like all various 2.5 yr olds to me.  exception being the buck in the back in the 3rd picture Tacks posted. that buck is most likely 3.5 yrs old. i think the last buck Tacks posted is still a 2.5 yr old. it's a tough angle and can't see leg proportions, or head/ears proportion.  Separately, the one Rob posted is a trophy that happens to have small antlers. that buck is 5.5 yrs old all day.  give a natural age structure you should see more bucks in younger ages classes. makes sense. another thing to be careful of is times of the season. aging in velvet isn't really a great idea at all. then aging a buck in September will be very different than when it's fully jacked up come early November.

i would put that one on the wall for sure.  All the time we have tried to get sight of him and for the areas i hunt that is a big rack. But def small for his age and body.  Def a trophy by age and knowledge, esp to me. Would love to see him while in the stand even if i dont get a shot. 

got within 70 yards of this boy twice last year, but would still rather get a shot at that old 8 if given the choice. 

[LET EM GROW]

Real TC... I believe the 2018 pic is of a 3.5 yr old from my best guesses. And is the same buck as one or 2 of the 2017 pictures. I had a buck very similar to that.. rack wasnt much, you'd think a year or 2 behind what he should be.. but his body displayed him differently, big heavy body dominant boy..

I love older bucks that dont score well, in fact i like them more than bucks that do score well lol.   

Rob I would say your dealing with a 6.5yr old or older this year from the looks of those pics.  

Deer can have different body characteristics, and be of the same age. I have 2 bucks right now that are 9.5 yrs old.. both display a little different body types.. One is an absolute tank of a deer, heavy bodied old workhorse look, the other is of good size but doesnt really look like the tank the other one is.. Just a bigger deer with a big chest.  

hope you connect.