Age guesses?

[Lost Lake]

I'd love some opinions on age of this buck. I know the pics aren't the best, but I believe him to be a 3.5 yr old. I swear I think he was a wide 2.5 that chased does for weeks around me last year.

Had him at 30-50 yards three times while he was locked onto yearling does. He kept me pinned all day in a tree last time out. Busiest lady's man I've ever seen.

I really hope to see him next year.

 

[redblood]

High end 3.5

 

[Snake]

High end 3.5

I concur , beautiful buck though.

 

[Andy S.]

Date of pic?

 

[Lost Lake]

Date of pic?

Sorry, the date and time stamp is wrong. User error on my part!

I believe it was late November of this year.

 

[BSK]

High-end 2 1/2 or possible 3 1/2.

 

[Lost Lake]

High-end 2 1/2 or possible 3 1/2.

2.5 crossed my mind as well. After seeing him live, and moving around chasing does, he still has that lanky teenager look.

 

[cbhunter]

I would say 3.5. Great buck

 

[Andy S.]

I suspect 3.5 from everything I can see in that pic. Regardless, I hope he makes it and you pick him up this summer/fall. I'd be anxious to see what he looks like this coming season. Thanks for sharing.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I would guess he is 3.5.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I'll go 3.5 with great potential.

 

[Racknquack]

I go with 2.5. But definitely on the high end

 

[Rem7600]

I think 2.5 looks just like a2.5 I shot this year aged by twra.

 

[megalomaniac]

Great young buck! I can't decide between 2.5 or 3.5 based on that particular angle hes positioned.

 

[TN Larry]

Based on that picture and late November, I would say 3.5 with great potential. I hope he sticks around for you next year.

 

[Hridge]

I'd love some opinions on age of this buck. I know the pics aren't the best, but I believe him to be a 3.5 yr old. I swear I think he was a wide 2.5 that chased does for weeks around me last year.

Had him at 30-50 yards three times while he was locked onto yearling does. He kept me pinned all day in a tree last time out. Busiest lady's man I've ever seen.

I really hope to see him next year.

I would wager a lot of money that he's 3-3.5 max. I'm a trophy hunter and would let him walk this year and possibly next if your neighbors aren't an issue. I also love my buddies that shootem when they feel like it, so don't think I'm preaching to you. I have seen huge leaps in antler size in Humphrey county between age 4 to 5. I'm mean huge!! I'm fortunate to have good neighbors as well. I think that's a great deer regardless. Kill him on your terms and based off your beliefs and I'll be the first to congratulate.

 

[1baddeer]

I am an outfitter here in TN. I could not see the whole body, but I have been using www.deerage.com to age our shot deer. I have found after 24 aged bucks horns can represent age, but body size has been 90% right. What I found out is if the deer/buck goes 150+ lbs they are over 4.5. Again not a absolute. The attached buck was shot last day of this season, horns, face, body says I am a mature buck but weighed only 140 lbs.

Looking at your picture I would say 4.5 - 5.5 comparing him to harvested deer at Horse Creek Farm in Wayne Co TN

 

[BSK]

I have seen huge leaps in antler size in Humphrey county between age 4 to 5. I'm mean huge!!

That's an interesting observation Hridge. I've been hunting and managing in Humphreys County for a very long time, and I've seen just the opposite: many bucks declining in score (but increasing in mass) from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2. But perhaps the difference is local habitat. The bucks in my area have access to a great deal of high-end agriculture hence can possibly "max out" much early in their lives.

Not to say that I haven't seen bucks peak at 5 1/2 or later, but I'm amazed at how often I see bucks peak in score at 4 1/2, especially in tine length.

This year, I had a fair number of bucks in the 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 range using my property, yet the two highest scoring bucks were both 3 1/2.

 

['borohunter]

Interesting - I would guess 3.5 myself.

 

[Hridge]

That's an interesting observation Hridge. I've been hunting and managing in Humphreys County for a very long time, and I've seen just the opposite: many bucks declining in score (but increasing in mass) from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2. But perhaps the difference is local habitat. The bucks in my area have access to a great deal of high-end agriculture hence can possibly "max out" much early in their lives.

Not to say that I haven't seen bucks peak at 5 1/2 or later, but I'm amazed at how often I see bucks peak in score at 4 1/2, especially in tine length.

This year, I had a fair number of bucks in the 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 range using my property, yet the two highest scoring bucks were both 3 1/2.

Very interesting... it could also be that I'm not as good at aging deer as I think I am ( haha!!). Either way I'm seeing benefits from letting them walk, great food plots, and having great bedding/timber management. The deer heard in our area and our state is getting better every year. I almost worry more about the doe population in our area as do my neighbors. We are just not over run with them. Not sure why that is, but you see so many button bucks and not as many big doe. I would send you a pic of a buck in our area that is non typical, probably 215 lbs, and well into 160" but he made it through and is still alive. He literally exploded as did a 9 pt. I think, as do my neighbors, that he did this from 4-5 but it could be that it's from age 3-4. I want to figure it out though. I also have a close acquaintance that has a very large tract not far from me. He doesn't deer hunt much and lets me run cameras just to see the deer. It would blow your mind what I see. Deer die of old age not being shot. He has great habitat as well and the deer just get massive.

 

[camoman270]

I'd love some opinions on age of this buck. I know the pics aren't the best, but I believe him to be a 3.5 yr old. I swear I think he was a wide 2.5 that chased does for weeks around me last year.

Had him at 30-50 yards three times while he was locked onto yearling does. He kept me pinned all day in a tree last time out. Busiest lady's man I've ever seen.

I really hope to see him next year.

3.5

 

[jason2779]

3.5 for sure

 

[Monk74]

I am an outfitter here in TN. I could not see the whole body, but I have been using www.deerage.com to age our shot deer. I have found after 24 aged bucks horns can represent age, but body size has been 90% right. What I found out is if the deer/buck goes 150+ lbs they are over 4.5. Again not a absolute. The attached buck was shot last day of this season, horns, face, body says I am a mature buck but weighed only 140 lbs.

Looking at your picture I would say 4.5 - 5.5 comparing him to harvested deer at Horse Creek Farm in Wayne Co TN
View attachment 65079

Is that dressed weight?

 

[catman529]

That's an interesting observation Hridge. I've been hunting and managing in Humphreys County for a very long time, and I've seen just the opposite: many bucks declining in score (but increasing in mass) from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2. But perhaps the difference is local habitat. The bucks in my area have access to a great deal of high-end agriculture hence can possibly "max out" much early in their lives.

Not to say that I haven't seen bucks peak at 5 1/2 or later, but I'm amazed at how often I see bucks peak in score at 4 1/2, especially in tine length.

This year, I had a fair number of bucks in the 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 range using my property, yet the two highest scoring bucks were both 3 1/2.

Yep the habitat and even genetics can vary quite a bit even over a short distance. Seems we like to generalize about everything and apply that generalization to the whole county or even region, when in fact there can be pockets that show completely different tendencies than surrounding area.