Hunting & Fishing Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

[Lucks]

I'm trying to help a fellow hide member age a buck he got on his deer camera. I'm seeing all kinds of guesses for this bucks age being posted, and I'm on the high end. What do y'all think?

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1460443#Post1460443


Here are some pictures of bucks on my place from my deer camera, which is about 30 miles from jackh's place.

Am I off on my aging?

<.5 years old

1.5 years old

2.5 years old

3.5 years old

4.5 years old

5.5 years old

6.5 years old (from jackh's post)

 

[garrett1107]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

I think your 4.5 and 5.5 may be the same deer..?
Otherwise, lets see more pics of the stud beside the spike horn!

 

[Lucks]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

These are definately two different bucks, Ive got pictures of them together at the same time.

 

[kurt]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

I dont see a deer over 3.5. but i am used to looking at deer up north and that could be the difference. When they start getting 4.5 plus up here they have swayed backs and little stubby legs. The bodys on those deer look like our mature does bodies. So i am going to say you are probally closer than i am because you are used to those deer.

 

[moochy28]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

I will second the no deer over 3.5 years of age..We had seen so many bucks this yr, it was easy to age them..

 

[Lucks]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

I probably need to point out that these pictures
are from the end of August in Texas. These bucks look a lot different now that their necks are swelled and they are rutting...
I agree if a buck had this small a neck and little muscling this time of year I would say it was a young deer.

 

[jeffbird]

Re: Deer age, what do you think, am I off?

Your photos are good.
Taking into account that this was an extremely hard year due to the worst drought in modern history here, they are eating protein and staying healthy. I agree with the others that those are maybe 3 1/2, 4 1/2 at the oldest, taking into account the protein offsetting the drought conditions.

The Central Texas deer in the other post is still young and should be allowed to go for another 2 or 3 years IMO.

for comparison here is an open range/low fence 7 1/2 year old from this season.