Older buck in decline?

[bwgarrett3]

Or is this just a younger deer with a weird rack? You guys are way better at this than me...

Pics were taken within the last week.

His body is pretty big for this area.

 

[Chickencoop96]

hard to tell but he looks relatively young still. i had a spike on my grandparents place years ago that looked real similar. sometimes they're just big bodied. he might be a stud next year!

 

[BSK]

Just a 3 1/2 year-old buck with a below average rack.

 

[TheLBLman]

Just a 3 1/2 year-old buck with a below average rack.

I was torn between 2 1/2 & 3 1/2, as in some pics he looked more 2 1/2,
in others more 3 1/2.

But suspect 3 1/2 is the correct answer.

 

[BSK]

He's an example of how wide the statistical bell-curve of possible antler sizes per age-class actually is. As I've said many times, for age-classes older than yearlings, the spread in any given location usually exceeds 100 gross inches from smallest to largest antlers in that age-class.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I was torn between 2 1/2 & 3 1/2, as in some pics he looked more 2 1/2,
in others more 3 1/2.

My post didn't post earlier, or I forgot to hit "post reply". But LBLman took the words out of my mouth.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Agree with BSK, a below average antlered 3.5 year old.

 

[Knothead]

Yep, I agree. I don't think he's an old deer. He MAY be 3.5. I'd guess 2.5. Could develop into a stud in a year or two.

 

[1jamey]

Young deer weird rack

 

[redblood]

Low end 3.5

 

[redblood]

A little too much neck for 2.5 in october