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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: 30coupe on October 05, 2012, 03:28:00 AM

Title: How old is this buck?
Post by: 30coupe on October 05, 2012, 03:28:00 AM
This guy is from my son's trail cam. The date didn't get reset when the batteries died, so ignore that. My son thought he might be too young, but the more I look at him I'm not so sure. The bell is sagging a bit and there is some sway to the back.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/30coupe/PRMS0392resized.jpg)

What do you think?
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Keefer on October 05, 2012, 04:46:00 AM
My quess is a 4year old but could be he is a Heavy eater like myself and that explains the saggy belly!  :D
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: bluegrassbowhunter on October 05, 2012, 05:15:00 AM
My guess is a 2.5 year old.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: DWT on October 05, 2012, 06:38:00 AM
possibly 3.5 but I would lean towards a 2.5 yr old.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Dirtybird on October 05, 2012, 06:40:00 AM
2.5-3.5
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: doug77 on October 05, 2012, 06:44:00 AM
2.5
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: STUMP THUMPER on October 05, 2012, 06:59:00 AM
3.5 Iowa has deer with good body size.
look at the bases, they look to be about 4-4.5"
In my past experiences Bases should be a good 4.5
for deer to be over 3.5. But after they get over 3.5 it becomes more difficult to age with out looking at they're teeth.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: LIBowhunter on October 05, 2012, 07:03:00 AM
According to the date on the trail cam he would be about 7.5 this year  :biglaugh:  This was trick question wasn't it?
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: bornagainbowhunter on October 05, 2012, 07:11:00 AM
From where the neck meets the chest, back and belly I would say 3.5 or 4.5.  

Kill him, then check his teeth.  I would like to know.

God Bless,
Nathan
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Easykeeper on October 05, 2012, 07:21:00 AM
Around here he would be older than 2.5 so I would go with 3.5 for a guess.  Our 2.5 year olds are still pretty rangy looking.

Only thing I know for sure is he's old enough for me...  ;)
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Froggy on October 05, 2012, 07:24:00 AM
My opinion wouldn't merit paying attention to, but if in "Kanati" range.... He would be OLD ENOUGH !!

Froggy
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: ranger 3 on October 05, 2012, 07:38:00 AM
When you take him, let us know how old.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Cory Mattson on October 05, 2012, 07:41:00 AM
2.5 possibly 3.5 this when it gets difficult but worth it to let him grow assuming picture is from Iowa.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: grouse11 on October 05, 2012, 07:45:00 AM
I would say 3.5 because of his muscle build. Neck is a little fuller, chest a little deeper and his waist is even with his chest. Although no older because of the lack of tarsal gland staining
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: KentuckyTJ on October 05, 2012, 07:56:00 AM
All depends on what he gets to eat all year. Is he on a place with all natural food sources or a place that is managed for deer and gets all he wants to eat all year?
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: 30coupe on October 05, 2012, 08:05:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
All depends on what he gets to eat all year. Is he on a place with all natural food sources or a place that is managed for deer and gets all he wants to eat all year?
He's surrounded by corn and beans all year and he beds in an oak timber, so I think he gets plenty of food.

Here's another shot with the tarsal gland showing.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/30coupe/PRMS0390.jpg)
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Bill Carlsen on October 05, 2012, 08:09:00 AM
No more than 3.5.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: 30coupe on October 05, 2012, 08:12:00 AM
This ten point might be harder to resist, but I doubt he's any older.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/30coupe/PRMS0046.jpg)

This picture would have been taken on 9-23-12. The other buck was nine days later. I don't know why it's in black and white in the daytime, but it's not my camera.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: huskyarcher on October 05, 2012, 08:13:00 AM
3.5 is my guess
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Iowabowhunter on October 05, 2012, 08:27:00 AM
He is a mature 4 year old cull buck, check out his nose, and where the neck meets the legs. big and thick, not a monster rack and isn't going to get much bigger-looks like table fare to me! good luck   :archer2:
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: treetoppredator on October 05, 2012, 08:54:00 AM
Take a piece a paper, your thumb, anything..and take his antlers out of the equation.  I think he is definetly a mature animal! Very rounded rump and deep chest, I think that he is atleast 4 1/2 years old if not 5 1/2.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: ron w on October 05, 2012, 08:56:00 AM
Old enough...........
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: hunt it on October 05, 2012, 09:57:00 AM
Around here he'd be 2.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: awbowman on October 05, 2012, 10:00:00 AM
Not that familiar with northern deer, but look 3.5 to me
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: buckeye_hunter on October 05, 2012, 10:02:00 AM
3.5 to 4.5

- Healthy roundness, but not sagging gut.
- Good head and nose, but not as thick through the shoulders. That might change as his testosterone amps up.
- No sagging around the jaw, so not an old deer.


All that said, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot him. Then again, I also don't have many game animals under my belt with a bow.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Nook on October 05, 2012, 10:13:00 AM
This one came from SE Iowa four years ago.  He was 2.5 years.  Very similar and had a big body.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/DSC01406.jpg)

Jeff
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Nook on October 05, 2012, 10:17:00 AM
Here's the hero pick for a better size comparison:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/iowa1021.jpg)
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Robhood23 on October 05, 2012, 10:32:00 AM
In Iowa, I would say 2.5 year old!
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Big Ed on October 05, 2012, 10:37:00 AM
2.5 years old
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on October 05, 2012, 10:44:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by treetoppredator:
Take a piece a paper, your thumb, anything..and take his antlers out of the equation.  I think he is definetly a mature animal! Very rounded rump and deep chest, I think that he is atleast 4 1/2 years old if not 5 1/2.
X2, you guys need to look at the body not the rack!  Nook, your buck looks like a 3 yr old. Congrats!

Tracy
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Montanawidower on October 05, 2012, 11:45:00 AM
For IA... I'd say 2.5.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: FerretWYO on October 05, 2012, 02:09:00 PM
3.5
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Earl Jeff on October 05, 2012, 07:38:00 PM
OLD ENOUGH  :archer2:
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Yellow Dog on October 05, 2012, 07:50:00 PM
3.5, about two years older than the average Michigan buck makes it to around my neck of the woods   :)
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: far rider on October 05, 2012, 07:53:00 PM
2.5-3.5 if it's an Iowa deer. 4.5 around here. My guess I should ask.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: gringol on October 05, 2012, 07:54:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Earl Jeff:
OLD ENOUGH   :archer2:  
ding! ding! ding!  Stick him!
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: ishoot4thrills on October 05, 2012, 07:59:00 PM
This is easy: he's 2 years, 6 months, and 4 days old. Sorry, that's as close as I can get without seeing his teeth.   ;)  

I'd try to get him this season, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't. And then, I'd be even happier to get him next season! But, I'm not real picky either.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Cootling on October 05, 2012, 08:55:00 PM
He'd be a very typical 2.5 year-old around here.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: TSP on October 05, 2012, 09:40:00 PM
Ishoot4thrills is right...deer are better aged by the amount of wear on the cusps of their molars, or (best of all) by lab-sectioning the teeth.  Size and antlers are too affected by variable factors like diet, minerals, geographic location, genetics, stress factors, general health, etc., to be consistently reliable.

Maybe you can get that buck to give a big grin into the camera the next time he comes to visit...     :bigsmyl:   :laughing:
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: tradgreenhorn on October 05, 2012, 09:55:00 PM
2.5 years old
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: KSshrewman on October 05, 2012, 11:20:00 PM
I'd say three and a half anywhere but Iowa and Kansas.  Prob two and a half there.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Steelhead on October 06, 2012, 02:29:00 AM
Probably 2.5 five years old.The ILL. bucks I have killed that are 2.5 look alot like that.Could be 3.5 though with a smallish rack.The body looks strong but not robust.Streamlined and athletic looking like a 2.5 or 3.5.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: TxAg on October 06, 2012, 08:50:00 PM
Deer are generally smaller bodied in Texas. Looks old to me.  


All these 2.5 guesses are boggling
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: backwoodsboy89 on October 06, 2012, 09:03:00 PM
i would say 3.5
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: 30coupe on October 06, 2012, 10:45:00 PM
Okay, I found this one from August, same buck. I'm enjoying the variety of answers. I'm hoping to get the answer first hand, but I haven't seen this guy in person yet.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/30coupe/PRMS1319_zpsffeb3a70.jpg)

Personally, I think he'll be better next year, but this shot is about 500 yards from a 4 lane, another bow hunter hunts 1/4 mile away, and this place gets hunted by muzzle loader later on. His survival is not guaranteed by any means. I'm afraid if I got a look at him from this distance and angle he would be as old as he's going to get.     :archer2:
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: SheltonCreeker on October 06, 2012, 10:50:00 PM
Man I was going to go with 2.5 but the august pic makes me wanna say 3.5 But who knows. I like your last post. Stick em!
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: GRINCH on October 06, 2012, 10:52:00 PM
2-2.5 by that pic.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Kelly on October 06, 2012, 10:53:00 PM
2.5 tops. Remember camera's have some magnification to their lenses so the deer always looks bigger than they really are.

Dead he has no chance to be bigger next year but alive he sure does.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: wpeterson on October 07, 2012, 12:31:00 PM
If that was a Texas deer, I would say 5.5 - 6.5. But, deer in this area don't weigh 250lbs either. A look at the tarsal gland tells a lot in the pics. They are sure light colored which indicates a younger deer to me.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: StickBowManMI on October 07, 2012, 02:18:00 PM
two and a half to three and a half. Let him grow up some more and he will be a prize.
Title: Re: How old is this buck?
Post by: Schultzy on October 07, 2012, 03:30:00 PM
3 year old.   Edit: After seeing your other pic I'm going with a great looking 2 year old. One thing to consider here Is that IR photo's always make a deer (bear too) look bigger.