Have seen pics of this guy before, but I haven't gotten good pics to really get a good age on him. The daylight pics also show his injury well on that right beam.





A little further away:

Not sure but id say 3-4 1/2

Looks 3 to me.

I was thinking between 3 and 4, likelier on the younger side.

Here's the next question for all the experienced guys/gals here:

He is injured but has good potential on his non-injured side, which makes me think he could pass on some good genetics, as his spread would be close to 16-18 inches inside if he were symmetric. Although these pics don't show it, he is easily 2-3 inches outside the ear on the good side. Would you let him breed this year and take him at the end of the season (rut here is typically mid November which would give a full 6 weeks prior to end of season to let him sow his oats with any late does) or would you let him walk this year and let that good side get bigger and take him next year?

I initially thought about taking him this year, but the more I think about it I am leaning toward waiting at least until end of season and if that doesn't happen just get him next year.

Opinions?

That type of injury will always effect that side of his antlers and he will look that way. It will not effect his genetics or his breeding. Only problem will be that type of injury usually weakens the skull and that antlers is likely to get broken off inot the skull again.

2.5 tops

About 1,200 days old, plus or minus 40.

3.5

2.5-3.5

Man I hate disagreeing with some of the ones that said 3, but I was thinking older. The staining on hocks, where neck meets brisket, thickness of non-rutting neck, and how the neck goes down, dips below the shoulder and then curves back up make me think older.

matt

I can see what you are saying too. I am a newbie when it comes to aging deer, and since this is my first day pic of him, I was just sending it out to see what people thought. The extra folds of skin on the neck are sometimes a giveaway of an old deer, but then the far away pic makes him look very young and lean. I am not sure if that is what is tripping people up or maybe they just think he is 3-4ish and thats based on other variables. Thats what makes this stuff so fun, it is variable from one area to another and from one deer to another.

I think his days are numbered. I will let him breed out this season and if something bigger shows up I will take it for sure, but if he is standing there the last weekend of season and he is the biggest thing I have seen all season, I will flail lead toward him until he takes a dirt nap. It could end up being my son's first deer, we'll see...

2.5

what county??? He looks young to me maybe 3.5 more like 2.5

2.5

2.5-3

Clay county, south of henrietta. I know there are some bruisers in the county based on pictures people have shown, but this is the boss of my feed pen right now. I have my cams set for video for the week so I am hoping to get a better view of him and the others interacting in the feed pen.

2.5-3.5

2.5- 3

2.5