3.5?

[tn24]

View attachment 295412

 

[BSK]

Yes

 

[GumbyGuy]

View attachment 295412

Maybe maybe less , he looks young to me

 

[BSK]

Maybe maybe less , he looks young to me

Way too much neck for 2 1/2 at this time of year. Late October, early November, yes, but not now. Also, too much dept in the chest.

Unless this is a buck from north of the Mason-Dixson Line.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Agreed on 3.5

 

[Snake]

At best .... but I'm thinking 2.5 .

 

[Ski]

Normally I'd say 3.5yrs. But this year it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were 4.5yrs. I spent all summer seeing deer that looked like big rack 3.5yr olds only to realize they were 4.5 & 5.5 after positively identifying them.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Agree 3.5

 

[quackaholic]

That's one giant trophy rock lol

 

[encore06]

That's one giant trophy rock lol

My thought as well. lol

 

[Chickenrig]

At best .... but I'm thinking 2.5 .

This^^^^^^

 

[DomG]

Medium Rare

 

[Specializedjon]

$1 Bob……

 

[BSK]

Normally I'd say 3.5yrs. But this year it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he were 4.5yrs. I spent all summer seeing deer that looked like big rack 3.5yr olds only to realize they were 4.5 & 5.5 after positively identifying them.

And this is a big problem. In areas that experienced rough conditions last fall/winter and this summer, I'm seeing bucks look a year younger than they really are. Bucks I KNOW to be 4 1/2 due to unique antlers and having followed them since they were 2 1/2 only look 3 1/2. Same goes for 3 1/2s looking 2 1/2.

But the above buck is a classic late September (date stamp says 9/23) 3 1/2. Now get a picture of him a month later and he'll look like a different buck. Too often hunters forget that the field-judge age criteria are based on bucks during the rut, when they are at maximum musculature. They will not meet those criteria pre and post-rut.

 

[Winchester]

Agree 3.5 most likely

 

[Ski]

And this is a big problem. In areas that experienced rough conditions last fall/winter and this summer, I'm seeing bucks look a year younger than they really are. Bucks I KNOW to be 4 1/2 due to unique antlers and having followed them since they were 2 1/2 only look 3 1/2. Same goes for 3 1/2s looking 2 1/2.

But the above buck is a classic late September (date stamp says 9/23) 3 1/2. Now get a picture of him a month later and he'll look like a different buck. Too often hunters forget that the field-judge age criteria are based on bucks during the rut, when they are at maximum musculature. They will not meet those criteria pre and post-rut.

It's been a tricky year. I've had to really lean hard on trail cam history to age bucks. While it's not typically a trusty aging method I have been forced to consider antler size when trying to determine age. Although I do sometimes get a very big racked 3.5yr old, it's not normal to have a herd full of them, especially given the drought over the last couple years. So when I see a very big rack buck that otherwise looks 3.5yrs old, I have been bumping his age up a year to 4.5yrs. So far as im able to positively identify them and confirm with trail cam history, it's been accurate.

The buck in the above pic absolutely looks like the quintessential September 3.5yr old. But he has a rack that would have me on the fence. I'd be looking close at trail cam history to be sure.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Yes, I believe that deer is a 3.5.

 

[tn24]

I can't tell if they're the same buck from year to year if they don't have a distinguishing characteristic. This buck is just a classic 8 point.