Pictures Age this deer..Please

[huskerbowhunter]

Just wondering how old you thought this deer is...I believe his a 6x7??...Too me he looks relatively young...Hes very unique and I'd love to let him grow into a monster but this land gets hit pretty hard with the rifle hunters and I'm afraid if I pass him I'll never see him again...Thats always the big delemma, although this one won't be that hard for me....I got him walking by everyday for the last 4 days so lets hope this patterns stay, now if I could just get the date and time fixed on the camera

[flatcoats]

jeez thatll be a monster some day! id say 2 1/2 tops. he even has a lot of characteristics of a 1 1/2, but its almost hard to think that with all those points on his head, but he could be. You gotta let that deer walk and give him a chance. He wont score much this year, but even if he makes it to next year, he could realistically jump into even the 160s with all those points to add length onto.

[BPbowhunter]

I agree, I would say 2 1/2 tops.

I have the same dilema in the area I hunt at. 2 years ago I passed on a really nice 2 1/2 knowing that he would get shot by a rifle hunter but I thought there might be a chance he makes it. Well come to find out, he did, and he's still alive. Now at 4 1/2 this guy is a monster! We found one side of his shed and rough scored it, and if the other side is identical to this side it would have scored in the 170's! So you never know, sometimes they do sneak by all the other hunters and live on.

[smokeybear z]

Funny you should ask. Last night I just got done reading an article in OL about aging deer. I would have a tendency to believe flatcoats in the 2.5 catigory.
-back and stomach are flat/taut
-gangley legs
-long and pointed face (you will see a wider nose with older deer)
-squared off rump

That is a tuff tuff decision. YOu know he will get bigger but only if he doesn't die. If you have a few deer of this size under your belt, let him walk and hope the gun hunters don't tag him. He would be really nice next year. On the other hand, if you have moderate gun pressure, muzzleloader pressure, and a whole year of him dodging cars in traffic, you better take him this year if you can.

If, one year from now, you are not seeing any picts of him, you think he is gone, would you;

1. wish you would have taken him
or
2. be glad you let him walk and been happy with the chance you took?

There in lies your answer.

[huskerbowhunter]

You guys are making it hard but I knew this deer wasn't very old...I passed on a approx. 130 during archery last year, only to shot a 133 during muzzleloader season so you never know what I'll do...I actually thought the muzzleload deer was a little bigger, but hey it was my first deer so I cant complain... Hopefully the one I passed during archery is still runing around...here he is from last year..I know he looks like a mean and it was pretty nice, but that was early october and I still had high hopes for the rut..








There is like a gazzillion rifle hunters on the property, but when the time comes I've been known to be really selective and pass up some nicer bucks...You know in the next couple years this buck is going to be a real monster if he can sneak by...If the time comes its going to be really hard to say well you just passed up a 6x7....Last years muzzleloader buck was my first, and it came after 3 years of chasing bucks so I decided to settle for that guy...I'd love to see him roaming around after rifle season, because then I think I'd definitely have to let him walk..Its not only this guy though, theres a lot of solid 2.5-3.5 bucks running around out there that are going to be questionable

Like this 4x4..Although he looks older to me than that first buck..great frame but not very thick in the beams..

[Slack Jaw]

If that deer is only 2.5 years old he has some awesome genetics!

[fearnofish]

There is no way that bucks 2 1/2 , might be wrong the wouldnt be the first. I am saying 3 1/2.

[flatcoats]

he has almost zero muscle development, hinds and quarters arent developed, and is very front heavy, legs are very out of proportion for his body. even being generous, he's two and maybe not even that.

I know youve got some other good bucks running around, and Im not usually one to say do or dont shoot a buck, but I think you wont get as much out of this buck as youd like after he loses velvet. Roll the dice on this one. He could be a superstud/

[Hunter]

I saw a thread on another board that I think fits in here pretty well. Here is a link to it........ Guess the age of this deer... - Hunting Nebraska Outdoor Forums

[fearnofish]

that buck is older than 2

[Hunter]

Fearnofish; if you are talking about the deer in the link I posted..... you can age it better from a picture than 2 game wardens in person because of why??!!

I think I will take the game wardens/experts word for it!!

[Hunter]

To answer the original question...... I am thinking that 2 1/2 at most because of the aforementioned legs, back and stomach.

Antlers are the last thing a person should ever go on to judge a deers age.

[fearnofish]

Yeah man thats what I was talking about, no I was talking about the pic that started this thread. And as far as this buck goes I am still saying 3 1/2.

[Hunter]

Ok; since you had already stated your opinion on the original deer pictured. I just figured you were talking about the one in the link I posted because your post was right after that.

If you say the deer pictured on here is that old what IS your thoughts on the one pictured in my link to the other site with that guys deer being aged by game and parks at 1 1/2?
Also what is it about the original deer pictures on this site that makes you think it is as old as you say? The others on here posted why they thought what they thought but you just said an age with no reason why. Not trying to bash you but am curious to your thoughts on how you came up with your age because to me the only thing on that deer that would suggest any type of older age is the antlers; every thing else about him says very young deer.

[flatcoats]

other than just trying to be disagreeable with whatever anyone says, probably no justifiable reasoning

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by flatcoats

other than just trying to be disagreeable with whatever anyone says, probably no justifiable reasoning

Now that is just mean.

I am serious though as to Fearnofish's reasoning. I am always open to hear peoples thoughts.
I may not agree with them though!!

[fearnofish]

Me and mr. flatcoats dont agree on a lot of things but hey he is like 18 years old and its kinda like that song back when I knew it all. I would like to see a pic of him broadside. But I will take Mr. Outdoorsmans word and just agree he is 2 1/2

[fearnofish]

This time of a year even a 4 1/2 year old buck looks gangly because they are not producing any testosterone.

[fearnofish]

I meant very much testosterone.

[Hunter]

Thanks for giving your reasoning. We will just have to agree to disagree. I don't feel even this time of year an old buck would not have the sway back and his legs won't look so out of whack for the rest of his body.