Help me age this guy….

[redblood]

Pretty sure this was a deer i hinted last yr. Actually killed a buck i thought was him until he showed back up a few nights later. I have already killed one old cull buck but may double down if the opportunity arises.


Few pics

 

[GumbyGuy]

What a tank!
Wanted to think he was an older one but he's not sway backed or pussle gutted. He sure is solid from chest to hindquarters
So I'm not sure 3 -4 year I still might be off

 

[fairchaser]

No one can say for sure but he's not 3.5. Why take him out of the herd? Unless he's a rack-snapper or there aren't enough groceries, live and let live. He's not hurting anything. Let a kid shoot him and fully appreciate it. He's no more a cull buck than a 1.5 year old spike.,

 

[cbhunter]

At least 4.5 but I am almost certain 5.5+

Neck don't match body but they ain't all perfect examples

 

[backyardtndeer]

I'd guess he's 4.5 minimum.

 

[redblood]

No one can say for sure but he's not 3.5. Why take him out of the herd? Unless he's a rack-snapper or there aren't enough groceries, live and let live. He's not hurting anything. Let a kid shoot him and fully appreciate it. He's no more a cull buck than a 1.5 year old spike.,

Mainly for the sake of knowledge. I need his tooth. I will certainly use him meat - but im trying to learn -to a higher level - the physical and behavioral changes a buck goes through as he ages and this has been interesting with the saga of this deer and his mistaken identity buck. i will post some pics. This is not on the big farm i live but rather the smaller piece where i grew up about 6 mikes away. I first got this deet on cam - or at least noticed him in november of 2022. I left the dates on the pics screenshots for reference

 

[redblood]

November 2022. Same spot in pretty much every pic. Notice the cedar in the back ground. I had him at 4.5 in 2022

 

[redblood]

Last yr i had lots of pics of him and actually thought i killed him. Last yr he still had the crab claw but had a couple of other points. In my mind he was 5.5 last yr. Got pics after the season to confirm he had survived the 2023 hunting season- 2023 pics- same spot

 

[redblood]

Here is the deer i shot last yr that i thought was him until i noticed the extra point wasnt there.. this deer aged 5.5

 

[redblood]

Got another super mature deer on cam in same spot about 2 weeks ago and killed him in same spot opening afternoon- but coukd tell antler traits were different. Tooth is being sent off now. Id estimate 5.5 but we will see.

 

[ImThere]

Don't give him a "hint" this year you'll have better luck hunting him! lol.
I think your dead on with age. @6.5

Pretty sure this was a deer i hinted last yr.

 

[redblood]

And then the next day, old original tank ( i think) strolls down the same scrapeline. I have got him 3 more times on cam since- Including last night.

So a tooth would definitely help solidify or disprove my hunches and reveal a ton about how deer change over the yrs

 

[redblood]

Don't give him a "hint" this year you'll have better luck hunting him! lol.
I think your dead on with age. @6.5

Hey imthere. That deer is only about 3 miles from your old house on haskins chapel

 

[ImThere]

Hey imthere. That deer is only about 3 miles from your old house on haskins chapel

You're probably the only person who would believe the bucks I seen on that little 3 acres. He's a good buck! Honestly, I could see where he could be a few years older. Do you have any pics where you think he's 2.5 or 3.5?

 

[redblood]

Oh i know. When turn on rd right past your house i meet them every morn

 

[Ski]

He's not young. Impossible to say for certain how old but that sausage body only comes with age.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Looks 5.5+ to me

 

[DoubleRidge]

Agree 5.5 minimum

 

[TN Larry]

5.5 without seeing the previous year pics. Could be 6.5 based on last years pic.

 

[ROVERBOY]

He could be 4.5, because he's pretty thick and muscular looking.