Thoughts on age

[chris1976]

This a buck with below average headgear that has been on our cameras for three years now. The first year I guessed him at 3.5. What do y'all see?

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[JCDEERMAN]

Hard to tell this time of year. He's still got some growing to do by the look of the bulbs on the end of his tines.

 

[MickThompson]

It's a bit of a misleading angle too since his back end is closer to the camera, making his front end look relatively smaller and less developed.


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[chart1300]

If that's below your average I want to come hunt! Lol I will shoot your culls for you.

 

[Andy S.]

.....that has been on our cameras for three years now. The first year I guessed him at 3.5.

Do you have any pics available from the previous three years that you could post up?

 

[TheLBLman]

I suspect that buck is more like "average" antlered for his age,
maybe even slightly above average antlered.

As to his age, really hard to say during summer, but I suspect he's fully mature.

My "guess" would be 5 1/2 or older.

 

[TheLBLman]

Just what do you believe the average 5 1/2-yr-old buck should gross score
even in the best areas of TN?

IMO, the average score is much lower than many have been led to believe by watching
programs on TV, etc.

That said, determining an average for fully mature TN bucks may be an exercise in futility
since most of the larger-antlered (talking via genetics) have been human-hunter killed by 3 1/2 or younger.
Most of those bucks surviving to maturity may in fact therefore be "below" average (genetically)
at least compared to other males born in their cohort (same birth year).

Just my "wild" guess, but based on genetic potential at birth,
I would suspect the average 5 1/2-yr-old Montgomery County buck would likely gross around 140 B&C.
But due to hunter antler high-grading (best ones killed at younger ages)
what we see surviving may be averaging more around 120 B&C.

MOST TN counties would have lower average scores per age class than Montgomery,
although this is probably due more to variances in hunting, soil, and nutrition
more than anything to do with genetics.

 

[chris1976]

Just what do you believe the average 5 1/2-yr-old buck should gross score
even in the best areas of TN?

IMO, the average score is much lower than many have been led to believe by watching
programs on TV, etc.

That said, determining an average for fully mature TN bucks may be an exercise in futility
since most of the larger-antlered (talking via genetics) have been human-hunter killed by 3 1/2 or younger.
Most of those bucks surviving to maturity may in fact therefore be "below" average (genetically)
at least compared to other males born in their cohort (same birth year).

Just my "wild" guess, but based on genetic potential at birth,
I would suspect the average 5 1/2-yr-old Montgomery County buck would likely gross around 140 B&C.
But due to hunter antler high-grading (best ones killed at younger ages)
what we see surviving may be averaging more around 120 B&C.

MOST TN counties would have lower average scores per age class than Montgomery,
although this is probably due more to variances in hunting, soil, and nutrition
more than anything to do with genetics.

on my farm in Montgomery county, we have 4 bucks this year we believe to be 4.5+. This is the smallest one by probably 20 inches. His rack has not changed by + or - 5 inches in three years.


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[Andy S.]

His rack has not changed by + or - 5 inches in three years.

Everyone should have the green light on him, especially youth and guests.

 

[ZachMarkus]

Just what do you believe the average 5 1/2-yr-old buck should gross score
even in the best areas of TN?

In the area I hunt in lawrence county I'd say around 120". Where I live and hunt in Williamson and Davidson counties I'd say close to 140"


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[muddyboots]

He's fully mature I say. Great buck too kill.

 

[megalomaniac]

Maybe it's just my eyes, but that deer looks to only be 3.5y/o to me. His chest is not deep at all in relation to his front legs. Are you sure he's they same one as you've seen for 3 years in row in the past?

 

[TheLBLman]

Maybe it's just my eyes, but that deer looks to only be 3.5y/o to me. His chest is not deep at all in relation to his front legs. Are you sure he's they same one as you've seen for 3 years in row in the past?

Good catch, Mississippi!
I thought similarly, but thought maybe just the pic angle and just the one pic, hard to say.
Summertime pics are deceiving.
Spinal curvature seems a bit pronounced for a young buck?