Sorry not great pics. Just curious what y'all thought. Thanks
October 2015

December 2016

6.5-7.5

5.5

5 year old

Mature

He's mature for sure, probably 5.5 yrs. Next season that buck would be on my hit list.

4.5 is my guess, nice buck.

Definitely mature, maybe even old. Given the range conditions in TX, he should have improved from 15 to 16, and it almost looks like he regressed. The head, neck, gut and backline in the 15 pic say 4.5-5.5 to me at least. It would not surprise me if he was 6.5 in 16.

I don't believe he's that old. I'd guess him to be 3.5 but I'm not certain. Hell some days I can't even remember how old I am.......

mature

I'm thinking he's probably a 5.5 year old. I'd be looking to take him next season.

Here's another pic from December 2016. He stepped out the last weekend of the season still have mixed emotions about letting him walk. Thanks for the input.

he an 8, bang

Yeah, he wouldn't have walked another step on my lease...I feel for ya bro. Hunted a 10 ptr with a kicker for two years, never saw him in daylight until the last day of youth extended season last year. He showed right at dark and didn't present a shot. Walked down into a small creekbottom and not intot he food plot. He then went into the feed pen for a short while and presented no shot behind the fence. Then proceeded to enter food plot after legal time was up...still haunts me to this day that I didn't think to grunt or try to rattle him up for a shot. Was just so focused on him being there I almost panicked. Anyway, he stood in the food plot for about 20 minutes taunting us with his big white rack glowing in the dark. You could see his antlers in the dark they were that big. My son is better than I am, I asked if he wanted to poach him, he declined. Better man than I am...

What time of year is yalls rut

5.5 here as well. Take him next year and be glad he got to breed another year

It's really hard to judge his age based on those pics. A clear daylight pic or pics would give a much better feel for his age. Based on the pics you posted I think you made the right decision letting him walk.

He still looks very long legged in those pics and is very flat on his skull between the pedicals to be older than 5 IMO.

Looks young to me. Id say his 5th birthday is soon approaching.

Mid November

very misleading set of pics.. that's a need to be there call... you don't have any other deer with a build like that? The last pic just threw everything out of wack... in the 2015 hes showing plenty of brisket, and facial similarities of a 4yr old deer before he beefs up for rut then 2016 it looks like rut may have been in swing maybe just a few weeks or is starting and hes a solid jug headed 5yr old.. then the last pic even though hes looking up and stretched out it looks like a totally different deer and he has gained stain on his hocks... granted you cant see that side on the other pic.... 12 days can take its toll but timing on rut would have to be perfect that you got the before and after shots right on.... this is also just 3 pics and easy to think to much....

id say 5yr old and those only because I cant see the 2015 pic being a 3yr old deer...

but I would have shot him in 2015 so all that thinking wouldn't have went through my head

It's got to be the same deer, but I'm with Nav, that last pic sure throws a wrench in things. Either he ruts down really hard or something else is going on. He does appear to still be leggy in 16 but hey, they don't all get fat and stubby. 17 is going to tell the story.

I think he looks younger rather than older based on those pictures.

I'm with nav and others that he doesn't look to be 5.5 in that last photo. I know bucks can get pretty rutted down, but that would have to be a very extreme case of it to make that deer a 5 year old. I'd need to see more photos, but I'm not very confident in my previous opinion of 5 years old. he looks 4.5 max in that last photo.