I would say 3.5 as well looking at that last pic makes me feel better about 3.5.

We have a 3.5 yo 12 on our place, was an 11 last year, alot like yours hi and narrow. Fun to watch hard to let go. We are going to let ours walk till next year then re-evaluate if we have the fortitude in our trigger fingers to pass him one more year.

Im no pro, but I dont think brow tine length has anythign to do with age, just someone trying to justify shooting a deer that doesnt meet other criteria.

matt

X2.

3.5. His neck is what makes me think not quite there yet.

It is tough this year judging deer. I have allready dropped the ball twice and allowed young bucks to be taken. In a good year I would say 3.5. But this year???

Only way to be sure is ground check. Teeth will tell the tale.

Yeah I'm leaning back towards 3.5 now as well. In fact I would put a chunk of change that says he is 3.5. GREAT DEER!

Exactly what I was thinking, especially the unbelievable potential part.

If you already droped the ball twice trying to accomodate for range conditions then maybe you are thinking about it too much. If it looks and sounds like a duck it probably is. SO if it looks like a 3.5 what do you think it is.

6.5, poor health, as is no longer breeding. harvest time

Mid age...3.5 from pics...takes some nerves to let him walk but he will be a giant next year if he makes it....great buck

Yup. Nothing but the gnarly going down now. First one I was sure he was an older buck in decline due to horn shape etc.. but he was the offspring of a buck still out there. Second one was due to an inexperienced guide looking at a 10 pt that had gorged himself on new grass and alfalfa. Way overthinking this year.lol

That is a stud of a 3.5. You need to get him 'fore Bubba next door gets to him first.

All I can tell you that if I was hunting there he’d been on the ground. 95 % of hunters can’t tell the difference between a 4 year old or a 5 year old much less six months and in a picture to start with. There’s a lot of guess going on here.

^^^^^^^ what he said, why wouldn't you bust that deer?

Because he has the the potential to be a giant in 2 or 3 years. He will never be bigger than he is now if you shoot him, but he isn't going to get smaller in the next 2 or 3 years if you let him go. Unless he breaks something.

Nothing about that deer says that deer is older than 3 to me. I'd like to know what some of y'all are seeing to think otherwise. Especially the ones saying 5 or 6 years old.

He is a puppy let him go another 2 years then repost the pictures he will be awesome!

He could also have the potential to get smacked by the front end of a pick up truck too. I know some of y'all will ride that "shoot only mature deer", "let em' grow old" train till ya die, and I agree to a certain point. But a buck with character like that will get no free pass IMO.

x2....Its hard to age deer.Its really hard to age a deer from a still pic,unless hes so old hes dragging his balls around in the dirt,and very loose skin hanging everywhere.Thats why biologists study there teeth,even then its accurate not right on.If I were you id shoot mim if I saw him.

Unless your place is thousands of acres i wouldnt be trying to wait and shoot him next year.

It would be an absolute crime to shoot that deer this year....he needs at least one more, possibly two more years.

Of course, if you're on small acreage and it's not high fenced....then he probably won't make it anyway.

3.5

3.5 but he will be a monster some day if he makes it. and he might not even be legal yet. 13 inch rule in Mills where i hunt!!!! and 16 inch on my lease.

Alot of the ones that always say "shoot him" are also the ones that are always saying I wish I could see a monster like the one you shot. You dont get 130" deer by shooting your 120" deer, you dont get 140" deer by shooting your 130" deer and so on. I think you get the idea. I dont care what anyone shoots as long as it is legal and will be the first one to slap you on the back and congradulate you on your kill. But dont complain to me about never seeing the big one, when you always shoot the young ones. I will say it again, less than mature buck with incredible potential.