Guess on Age

[Mission08]

Any guesses on the age of this buck?

 

[TheLBLman]

At least 3 1/2 (come Fall 2016).
Assuming that's a recent pic of this spring/summer
Surely that March date is not correct?

 

[Mission08]

Date is wrong. That picture was taken in the last few days.

 

[TheLBLman]

Date is wrong. That picture was taken in the last few days.

Figured that was the case.
I know some of us sound like broken records repeating this, but it's hard to accurately evaluate a buck's age at this time of year, and, we're "not supposed" to place much if any emphasis on the antlers as age criteria.

However, there is some correlation between antler mass (beam & tine circumference) that can be instructive.
IMO, that particular buck would appear to be below average (or average at best, for most of Middle/West TN) regarding main beam circumference (or diameter) for a 4 1/2 or older buck. You can use the deer's eyeballs as a frame of reference. But then, if he had a "skinny" rack as a 3 1/2 last year, that gave him better odds of surviving to 4 1/2. So he certainly "could" be 4 1/2, or older.

Adding to the assessment difficulty is the velvet, which nearly always makes antlers appear more "massive" than their reality. Velvet shedding is often a time of a great disappointment for hunters who have been getting summer pics of some "nice" velvet bucks.

One or two pics can also be misleading, sometimes just a certain angle or stance making a certain body characteristic seem more or less. Particularly in your 1st pic above, I believe this buck's body configuration is more in line with 4 1/2. But will stick for now with 3 1/2 or older.

Do you have a pic of a buck from last October/November you think is likely this same buck?

 

[Mission08]

I have a deer that I think could possibly be him but not sure. I'll know once he grows a little more.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

I would say 3 1/2