3.5 or older?

[Mike Belt]

Actually, if a hunter is after a "certain size frame buck" he should be upping his standards during the velvet hunt. If one typically passes on 2.5 year old bucks in the 120-125" range shooting one in velvet that size will likely be a buck he'd for sure pass on later in the year. This would equate to him dropping his standards unless his goal is to just kill one any size in velvet.

 

[Andy S.]

I lean more to the 3.5 myself .......

Nothing wrong with that, just know that the majority of bucks aged in summertime pics are aged AT LEAST a year younger than they really are. That is why it is so hard to say for sure during the summer when they are thinner, have thinner coats, have lower testosterone, and have a doe's neck so to speak.

 

[Andy S.]

Actually, if a hunter is after a "certain size frame buck" he should be upping his standards during the velvet hunt.

My thoughts exactly, but not everyone sees it our way Mike. Some hunters are so excited about the velvet, that just the opposite is happening; they are lowering their hard horn standards for a shot at a velvet buck during this very narrow 3 day window of opportunity. It's their tag and they can burn it however they want, just know, it will happen later this month.

 

[wobblegobble]

The first deer is 4.5 and the second is 3.5

 

[wobblegobble]

The 3.5 pix is bad...this one is better of him

 

[TN hunter]

Thank you all for the great information. I am hoping he will hang around so that I can get a better look after the velvet comes off and the rut begins. I know every one of our neighbors will shoot this buck without even a hesitation. Here is a pic of another buck that looks at least 4.5+ to me. Thoughts?

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[JCDEERMAN]

TN hunter- atleast! Atleast 5.5....hope he sticks around for you

 

[Andy S.]

Here is a pic of another buck that looks at least 4.5+ to me. Thoughts?

He is north of 4.5, likely 5.5, and possibly 6.5. I've killed one buck that I knew was 6.5 (trail cam pics, TR&W method and cementum annuli method all agreed for a change), and this deer looks a lot like he did in July/August.

 

[TheLBLman]

Here is a pic of another buck that looks at least 4.5+ to me. Thoughts?

He is north of 4.5, likely 5.5, and possibly 6.5.

Agree.
5 1/2 or older.

Thoughts?

2-Buck Limit is Helping You? :tu:
Seems we're seeing a statewide increase in fully mature bucks?

 

[tree_ghost]

That Kat is old school!!!


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[TN hunter]

Here is a pic of another buck that looks at least 4.5+ to me. Thoughts?

He is north of 4.5, likely 5.5, and possibly 6.5.

Agree.
5 1/2 or older.

Thoughts?

2-Buck Limit is Helping You? :tu:
Seems we're seeing a statewide increase in fully mature bucks?

LBL,

It's hard to tell. On this particular property we have approx 250 acres. We generally will harvest only 1-2 bucks per year. Our goal is 4.5 or older. With that said, our neighbors do not share the same philosophy. We lost 4 bucks that were in the 3.5 yo range last year to our neighbors with a couple of bucks that would have been great this year. We do our best to keep the bucks on us, but once the rut kicks in, it's impossible.


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[Andy S.]

We do our best to keep the bucks on us, but once the rut kicks in, it's impossible.

Truer words have never been spoken. I've been afforded the opportunity at Ames (18k acres) to get a unique buck on trail camera one night during late November/early December, and he get killed a mile away the very next day. If you think about it, a mile, even to the slowest walking person in the world, is not much ground to cover over a 24 hour period.

 

[TN hunter]

Here is a pic of another buck that looks at least 4.5+ to me. Thoughts?

He is north of 4.5, likely 5.5, and possibly 6.5. I've killed one buck that I knew was 6.5 (trail cam pics, TR&W method and cementum annuli method all agreed for a change), and this deer looks a lot like he did in July/August.

Andy,

Here is a pic of one of the bucks we targeted last season. I am wondering if this buck is the same buck in the recent picture I posted.

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[Andy S.]

Here is a pic of one of the bucks we targeted last season. I am wondering if this buck is the same buck in the recent picture I posted.

He has eerily similar antler configuration, and both bucks have a sort of palmated left G2 where it connects to the main beam, basically fattens out at the bottom somewhat. I suspect the last two pics you posted are of the same buck, one last year post season, and of course this year pre-season.

 

[TN hunter]

Andy,

Thanks! I completely agree with you.


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[wobblegobble]

Old dude there! How close are you guys together? Looks like the same der

 

[megalomaniac]

The first buck you posted is 3.5. If he's 4.5, he's WAY underweight this late in the summer with decent rainfall.

The second buck is 5.5

 

[Good time Charlie]

It is so hard to guess the age right now....but if I had to guess I would say 4.5.