age guesses, does he have belly sag

[Jaahspike]

Or are my eyes already getting bad

 

[BSK]

The idea of using "belly sag" as a criterion for aging bucks is WAY overblown, in my opinion. In the summer, use chest depth as the best judge of age. And using that criterion, that buck is 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 at best (middle-aged).

 

[thickethunter]

Agree with BSK, middle-aged. Neck is too narrow and but is too small to be an older deer.
He does look healthy. Thanks for posting pic.

 

[BSK]

Neck is too narrow...

You can't use the size of the neck for aging in summer. All bucks have narrow necks at this time, even mature bucks. They don't fill out their neck muscles until mid to late October.

 

[de novo]

Not much belly sag there. Looks 3 years old max based on body antler development for July 3.

 

[Jaahspike]

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[Shed Hunter]

I would bet the majority of summer bucks posted are aged wrong.

SOME 5.5+ bucks do have noticable belly sag though

 

[MUP]

I'd say 2.5 as my best estimate.

 

[BSK]

SOME 5.5+ bucks do have noticable belly sag though

And so do some 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old bucks. Belly sag and back sway are NOT good indicators of age.

 

[W.Seay]

3.5