Thoughts

[OakHillHunter]

I generally don't ask about age and score, but this deer has me generally curious of the age of this buck. I have my thoughts on his age but I'd like to see if that lines up with others. This buck is a product of some management practices we have implemented on our small acre lease. I'll try to upload the video later.

 

[Ski]

I wouldn't even dare try aging him from that pic. Needs to be more broadside. But there are some clues. His head to body ratio is pretty big and ear to head ratio pretty big as well. That usually indicates a younger deer, but grainy night pics with infrared lit edges can be deceiving. Still yet I'm going to tentatively guess no older than 3.5yrs until I see a daylight broadside pic that changes my mind.

Furthermore, I don't get excited about antler size until I see bases that equal or surpass ear bases, which is about 4.5"-5". I don't see many P&Y racks with measurements smaller than that. This deer is smaller but likely due to width alone and tine count would reach the 125" P&Y threshold.

If this were the only pic I had I'd tentatively conclude he was a very, very promising young deer that if given safety and nutrition could be world class in time. I say tentatively because with only this one grainy night pic to go by it's really just an experienced guess.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Looks like a pretty buck, bad angle to guess an age and score though. I can't tell for sure if he is a 9, looks like it. With no more than that I would guess he is at least 3.5, and conservatively guess a score of low to mid 120's.

 

[megalomaniac]

Really tough angle to judge age and rack, but def a pic that makes me want to see more

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Terrible angle but a great buck! Post some more pictures if you get them.

 

[OakHillHunter]

Terrible angle but a great buck! Post some more pictures if you get them.

I have a 15 second video that im trying to get to upload if i can get the internet to cooperate.

 

[OakHillHunter]

I finally got the video up

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

I finally got the video up

I'm no expert but that deer looks young to me in the video. If he's only 3.5 my goodness what a specimen. Great buck regardless of age.

 

[Hymie3]

Pull the trigger when you see him. He's mature

 

[Ski]

The video concretes my initial thoughts. He a ginormous 3.5yr old. I mean WOW. Absolutely a trophy as he is but if he could survive another couple years without taking any damage or getting bad sick, he very likely could be record level size.

Almost as impressive is the size of that white oak! No wonder he's there.

 

[OakHillHunter]

The video concretes my initial thoughts. He a ginormous 3.5yr old. I mean WOW. Absolutely a trophy as he is but if he could survive another couple years without taking any damage or getting bad sick, he very likely could be record level size.

Almost as impressive is the size of that white oak! No wonder he's there.

That one has been a good producer. I had a ton of sign around that area last year. The big draw back is its on the property line.

 

[Coker]

He is already a night owl . Very impressive buck. I would agree with SKI at 3.5yrs old.
What part of TN?

 

[OakHillHunter]

He is already a night owl . Very impressive buck. I would agree with SKI at 3.5yrs old.
What part of TN?

The mountains of east tn. At the time of this video it would still be legal shooting light. I'm pretty certain they are bedding within 150 yards of this spot. I have gotten them at first light, last light. I have a group that has this 10, a really nice 8 and some small er bucks in it.

 

[double browtine]

I think he is a younger buck. 3.5 . Like others have said, in a couple more years with those genetics he could be 180+ inches easily.

 

[OakHillHunter]

He finally stepped out in the daylight

 

[BSK]

Dang that buck is wide! But not super old. No older than 4 1/2, and I would probably list him as a 3 1/2 for now.

 

[redblood]

Agree. He may be 4.5

 

[Ski]

I don't see 4.5.

 

[DMD]

I think definitely 3.5, but what a buck for that age. Or really any age in ETN. Nice videos.

 

[ZachMarkus]

Looks like a classic 3 year old to me, nice buck!

 

[megalomaniac]

looks like a 3.5 yo to me as well

 

[TheLBLman]

The most certain thing I can say is this buck has the genetics for a very wide rack!

My best guess is he's 3 1/2 or older, possibly 4 1/2.
Still can't rule out his being a super, super 2 1/2.

If he were in my hunting area, he is the very essence of a buck I'd want to protect until he's as least a year older.

But that's just me. If I were younger and had never killed a 3 1/2-yr-old buck, never killed a buck larger antlered than that one, would probably just be like many other hunters eager to shoot him, as I have been in times past.

For those thinking this buck might make the 125" net minimum for P&Y,
I don't think he will. There's not much mass there. He's very wide, but very little score comes from that.
He does look 120-class.
He also is looking more & more like a truly top-end, super-well-fed 2 1/2-yr-old buck.
If that's the case, his antler gain from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 will likely be astronomical.

 

[Ski]

He also is looking more & more like a truly top-end, super-well-fed 2 1/2-yr-old buck.
If that's the case, his antler gain from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 will likely be astronomical.

He looks closer to 2.5 than 4.5. But I think he's 3.5. Either way he has incredible potential.

 

[backyardtndeer]

After watching the videos, still think 3.5, but think he may score higher than my initial guess.

 

[TheLBLman]

He looks closer to 2.5 than 4.5. But I think he's 3.5. Either way he has incredible potential.

As an aside, I've personally seen, in TN, very well-fed 2 1/2's, with top-end genetics, actually gross score into the 140's, meaning they were overall larger antlered than this particular buck (regardless of his age).

Even in the "ridge & hollow lands" of TN's Western Highland Rim (relatively poor habitat, acorn-driven), I've seen 2 1/2's score into the 130's, and quite a few @ 120. But can't say I've ever seen a 2 1/2 as wide as this one. Of course, anywhere in TN, when a 2 1/2 can score 110 or higher, he's approaching top-end for TN. Maybe 1 in 25? But a 120-class youngster is maybe 1 in 100?

A few years ago, I was shown pictures of a mainframe 12-pointer, and asked to guess the buck's age. I guessed that buck at 4 1/2, thinking he "could" have been only 3 1/2. Then we were shown all his antler measurements and his jawbones. That Middle KY buck appeared to be no older than 2 1/2, and gross scored around 160.

My best guess remains 3 1/2 for this thread's buck
But am now thinking it's just as likely he's 2 1/2 as 4 1/2.
This is a truly special buck due to that wide spread.

 

[Volbuck777]

That deer isn't 2.5 but he isn't 4.5 either. That an awesome 3.5 y/o buck and I'd guess him over 120.