Age this deer

[Nova]

Help me tell how old this deer is. Here are several different angle of him. What do you think?

[c&amagn]

I'm going to guess 4 1/2--5 1/2 buck. Very healthy looking buck, good luck in getting him this season, he's gotten that big for a reason???

[roosterslayer]

I was thinking 2 1/2 - 3 1/2. The rack looks good but the spread doesn't seem to wide. Either way he is a shooter in my book.

[TrophyEyes]

I would say 3 1/2. I don't know where he is and how the food sources are around that area, but he is no more than a 190lbs. Don't get me wrong, I would shoot him, but if you give him one more year you will have one heck of a buck. If you have a bow, yes, if you see him towards the end of the season still on his feet and you know he won't get shot by the neighbors, let him grow. He is not exceptionally wide, but has great mass. Do you know if he will get any wider? Any history from the land (dad, grandpa). If you know what he could be, you might hold off. I would think he is around a 120-130inch buck. Just my guess though.

[Walleye Guy]

2.5 years. The deer has a thin face and has no belly to speak of. Its a fairly young deer that has good genetics and good nutrition.

[GerrySchoolcraft]

He looks to be a 3 1/2 year old buck, about 16-17 inch width with good mass. I have this same looking buck on my wall with shorter tines and he scored 131. I would safely score this one at 140 +or- an inch. If you can manage the land and the neighbors don't get a chance at him I would let him go for another year. Seeing your other pic's in another thread, I would take the big 8 with the sticker points first before this 11. He looks to be more mature than this one.

[perchking]

I would say he is NO older than 3.5.

[harvey lee]

My guess would run approx. 2.5 years old. Smaller thinner face, narrows shoulders and not alot of body mass. Yes, I would probably shot it as it may make P&Y book.

[TrophyEyes]

Remember, he is still in velvet and looks bigger than he actually is. If you have an opportunity to take him in velvet, don't even think about it, fire off an arrow. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, I can get you my phone number and I would be happy to assist you in culling this deer or maybe his grandfather.

[Nate McVey]

I would say 2.5. Skinny face, no belly, etc. I would have a hard time not taking him even though he is young.

[McGurk]

The second and third pix really show a lean build with long, thin legs. Not a whole lot of bulk like you see with the older bucks, and no belly sag, either. Very healthy looking buck, but I'd say this was his 4th summer at the most (3 1/2). Tough to look past that head gear, though, and a respectable deer none-the-less!

[surewood]

3.5 years old.

[big drift]

2.5 thin face, narrow back, nice tall frame with decent bases but within the ears and room to grow. Remember they look bigger with velvet, our camp rule is 8 point minimum extending past the ears.

I would say let him go another year and push the mineral...

[TrophyEyes]

I know we are talking about this deer as a 2 1/2 year old. There has to be a bigger buck around with those genetics. He may not be coming out yet, but this guy is not the dominant buck at 2 1/2 or even 3 1/2 years old. You also want that guy breading at least one more year. These are good problems to have I guess.

[LuciandTim]

Nova:

Is your time off on those pictures?? Just an observation, i'm sure you already know

[Powerstroke]

I would agree a fine 2.5yr old or maybe a 3.5yr old but no more.

[Hammer Handle]

It is extremely hard to say. Looking at the body and horns only can be deceiving.

The only way to "really" tell is to check out his teeth.

Good luck with that!

[LABS4ME]

I say, 'rope him', saw off one of his antlers and count the rings!

I agree, hard to tell by a picture if he's a 2.5 YO vs. a 3.5 YO.

I shot a 7.5 yr. old (verified by DNR doing tooth analysis) and everyone was guessing 6.5-10.5... by it's looks. It's only a guess until you look at the teeth.

Good Luck!

Ken

[EatSleepFish]

3.5, based on the smaller size of body.

[Nova]

actually I was so impressed by all the deer I did not notice that . It looks like it is though... I'll have to check when I get up there Thursday night. I know I had it set right at one point this late summer

[jlm]

Based on the the deers body I would say 2.5. However, it could be 3.5 as well when you consider the size of the antlers (looks like he has some mass but hard to tell with velvet). Whatever the case, it is a young deer and if he has a chance to age a year or two more, he will be very impressive. He could be the one in several thousand that could be a true booner soon! Tough choices this Fall maybe?

[PerchJerker]

3.5 or 4.5. There's been a lot of comments about his body shape. Wait for 45 days and then look at him, he'll be big and blocky with plenty of sway and sag and swagger, and lots of guys will be guessing 5.5. Nonetheless he's a fine deer.

Hammer Handle had it right, the only way to know for sure is to have his teeth examined