Buck aging without seeing antlers..

[TNlandowner]

How old is this buck? Photo was taken in NE Carroll County, south of Paris, TN.

 

[TDW05]

Mature, 4.5+

 

[Rabbitkil]

Who uses antlers to age? Easy 4.5 or older

 

[Volbuck777]

Old

 

[BSK]

At least 4 1/2. Maybe 5+

I don't use antlers to age bucks. Doing that will produce a ton of mistakes, and some really big mistakes.

 

[deerhunter10]

4.5 plus.

 

[cbhunter]

4.5+

 

[cbhunter]

I sure Miss hunting mixie/vale areas

 

[backyardtndeer]

At least 4.5.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

4.5+…may be more of a 5.5

 

[chart1300]

4.5 min.

 

[branden]

Let's see the rest..

 

[rem270]

I think 5.5+.

 

[Iglow]

Fat belly, big neck, big shoulders,short legs, = 4.5+

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I change my answer - I said maybe 5.5….he is for sure atleast that

 

[Ski]

Front quarters larger than hind, neck as broad as torso, and waist as big around as chest.

There's an old metric that if you shoved a 2×4 through behind his front legs and lifted, would he tilt forward or backward? If backward then he's 3.5 or younger. If he balances he's 4.5. If he tilts forward he's mature. While not exact it's pretty darn close.