Tndeer Logo

Page 1 of 4 1234>
Topic Options
#1704811 - 01/03/10 12:50 PM Be careful field-judging age at this time of year
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical


Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59555
Loc: Nashville, TN

Offline
Just wanted to mention for those that either field-judge the age of bucks in trail-cam pictures or those that do so while hunting: be careful of field-judging age this far post-rut. Bucks--especially active breeding bucks--can lose a tremedous amount of weight during the rut. Even penned bucks have been documented losing 30% of their body weight during the rut chasing does round and round inside the pen.

The "rules" for field-judging buck age are based on buck body-shape just before and at peak rut. Since many of the older bucks have lost weight during the rut, they can look younger than they really are. Even big bulked up mature bucks can look very different from early November to late December and into January.

Here's a perfect example. Here's one of the mature bucks (5 1/2) I've been chasing and getting trail-cam pictures of. Here he is in early November, with all the classic massive chest and neck of a fully mature buck:




But here he is as of Dec. 30. He's lost a lot of weight, especially in his neck and chest. If this were the only picture I had of this buck I would say he is no older than 4 1/2:

_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan

"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James

Top
#1704820 - 01/03/10 12:55 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: BSK]
strutandrut
Non-Typical


Registered: 07/03/06
Posts: 28621
Loc: signal mountain

Offline
That deer is a stud.
_________________________
Any day above ground is a good day.

Why do I carry a gun? Because cops weigh too much to carry and are difficult to conceal.

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Top
#1704822 - 01/03/10 12:58 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: BSK]
Rackseeker
10 Point


Registered: 09/26/02
Posts: 4778
Loc: Franklin County

Offline
How many acres do you hunt? It is hard to figure that you know the deer so well and haven't seen him this season in the daylight.
_________________________

Top
#1704828 - 01/03/10 01:01 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: Rackseeker]
warrent423
6 Point


Registered: 09/11/07
Posts: 634
Loc: Tenn. McMinn, Athens

Offline
I don't worry about such things.
Top
#1704925 - 01/03/10 02:06 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: warrent423]
trealtree
16 Point


Registered: 09/29/04
Posts: 10147
Loc: Middle Tennessee

Offline
They also may be missing those horns.
_________________________
There is only 1 Absolute.

Top
#1704936 - 01/03/10 02:14 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: Rackseeker]
RUGER Administrator
Arachnophobic
Non-Typical


Registered: 11/19/99
Posts: 4097488
Loc: TN

Offline
 Originally Posted By: Rackseeker
How many acres do you hunt? It is hard to figure that you know the deer so well and haven't seen him this season in the daylight.


Not sure how many acres he has but BSK's deer are like his kids. \:D
_________________________
Youth is wasted on the young.

Top
#1704967 - 01/03/10 02:40 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: RUGER]
Football Hunter
18 Point


Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 24565
Loc: Wilson Co/Perry Co

Offline
good info
_________________________
The best day to plant a tree,IS TODAY!

You wont know,if you dont go!


Top
#1704971 - 01/03/10 02:40 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: RUGER]
megalomaniac
10 Point


Registered: 10/28/05
Posts: 4887
Loc: Mississippi

Offline
Good point, and well taken!
Top
#1704991 - 01/03/10 03:01 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: BSK]
Double-D-Team
10 Point


Registered: 12/18/02
Posts: 3483
Loc: God's Country

Offline
BSK,

Thanks for the reminder and like always good info.
_________________________
Don and Dee (DOUBLE-D-TEAM)
THE RICHEST VALUES OF WILDERNESS LIE NOT IN THE DAYS OF DANIEL BOONE NOR EVEN IN THE PRESENT. BUT IN THE FUTURE--LEOPOLD

Top
#1705000 - 01/03/10 03:11 PM Re: Be careful field-judging age at this time of year [Re: Double-D-Team]
Bowdacious
16 Point


Registered: 09/01/00
Posts: 12962
Loc: over here

sleepy Online
I wouldn't be able to field judge that one at any time. I would have a stroke if he walked out in front of me.
_________________________
Disagreeing with me doesn't make me any less right.
____________________________________

The best gift you can give another is the feeling that they are worth something.

Top
Page 1 of 4 1234>


Moderator:  RUGER, Tennessee Todd, Unicam, Cuttin Caller, CBU93, stretch, Bobby G, Outdoor Lady, TurkeyBurd 
Hop to:
Top Posters
4097488
RUGER
80546
Deer Assassin
59555
BSK
56044
Crappie Luck
50720
spitndrum
Newest Members
OldGoat68, smokeless74, cedarhillkennels, PrimitiveProtector, bigdaddy84
12113 Registered Users
Who's Online
46 registered (Rockhound, AT Hiker, paincave_2000, 94user, encore06, DaveB, 6 invisible) and 87 anonymous users online.
Forum Stats
12113 Members
38 Forums
115992 Topics
1412572 Posts

Max Online: 756 @ 11/20/12 09:10 AM
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
May
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Forum Donations
The TnDeer.Com Deer Talk Forum is for Tennessee Deer Hunters by Tennessee Deer Hunters. If you enjoy using our Talk Forum and would like to contribute to help in it's up-keep. Just submit your contribution by clicking on the DONATE button below and paying with PayPal or a major credit card. Any amount is much appreciated. Thanks for your support!

TN Burn Safe

Generated in 0.012 seconds in which 0.002 seconds were spent on a total of 15 queries. Zlib compression enabled.