Is he 6 months or 1.5 years old

[slimngrizzly]

A 1 1/2 old buck with the best genes and the best nutrition will probably still be a small spike its first year if he was born late! This is very common in MN because our buck/doe ratio is not very close. This results in late bred does and late born fawns. You have NO WAY of knowing what that deers potential is right now!

Id almost assure you that next year, when hes had a chance to "catch up", that deer will be so much larger(rack and body) you wont recognize him anyway. Even with the sheds in hand, its very difficult to identify a buck from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2. This is especially true when a spike. At 2 1/2 his genetic framework will realy begin showing, you should be able to identify him by his antler characteristics (which he will keep from year to year) and youll have a much better idea of what he may become... This goes for EVERY young buck out there if they survive.

[vitalshot5]

Have you actually seen any nards on this deer? 6 years ago i shot a deer similar to the one in your pic and it was a doe with antlers...some crazy gene thing is what the dnr told me.....just a suggestion

[bigbucks]

Like most have said I think he's just a late fawn from last year. Could it be a yearling doe with horns, sure, but I'd bet on the former. His momma will most likely chase him away in the next couple of weeks. They don't chase the buck fawns off in the first fall, although they do usually separate from all of their fawns when they're interested in getting caught by a buck. I don't know, maybe the buck actually chases the fawns off, but that's just temporary. It certainly happens during or right before firearms season an awful lot though.

[Nova]

Quote:

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They don't chase the buck fawns off in the first fall,

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They don't? I have heard 100 times they do and very seldom that they don't. I know they don't chase the doe fawns off, but the buck fawns?

[LABS4ME]

I see button bucks with their Mom's all the time during the WI rifle season. I've had them close enough to definitley ID them as button bucks. I beleive they stay with Mom through the 1st winter until they break up for fawning.

Good Luck!

Ken

[vister]

My point was he is probably hanging, maybe banging mom. the intentions of the gene pool comment. another, a deer like that probably won't ever be great, no matter what he eats. I've seen bruisers like that one still nursing during rifle season, and it was at least a year and a half. By taking only trophy bucks, 3-6 years of age, you may be dwindling the chance of good bucks in years to come. Maybe they haven't mated yet for the year, or didn't get a chance to last year. Shooting a buck like the one on topic won't make you a lesser hunter. The bucks with better potential at least fork, not just a spike with kickers, even at a year and a half.

[Shack]

Very Good point! Inbreader!