Definitely sensitive

I have a friend that had a doe live till she was 16, then just wasn't there one day (roamed off to die) just before she turned 17. I made a thread about her a few years back. She had twins till she was 14.
We have several does that are 10-11 years old and still have fawns but age is showing.
Bucks live just as long but antler growth can really degrade after 9-10. I have shot several 10 year old bucks and they had gone down hill greatly. The posted deer has held up very well, any 10-12 year olds I have seen just don't have the body structure/mass anymore and antlers are significantly reduced. They actually look unquestionably "old"

I absolutely have no doubt they will live that long but I have have no doubt that it's possible it is an offspring. Without being in a controlled environment there's simply no way to be sure. That being said those are some nice pics of buck/s.

Not hard to believe. Don't sweat the negativity tlk. Deer can live that long and longer. Buddy manages a high fence place and has a one eared doe that he's had pics of every year since 2002 and she had a fawn with her in 2002. She sucks up protein then throws her head back so it'll run down her throat.....no teeth left to chew.

Very possible to get that old, also very unlikely as well.

I have no trouble at all believing the 2017 buck in the photograph is over ten years of age, that is an old man right there.....

Looks like the same deer to me. Thanks for sharing. I've noticed most people simply cannot grasp that deer are individuals, and don't all age exactly the same way, and according to some book you read. It has been well documented that deer are capable of living to 10+ years old, especially if they are feeding protein.

Have a buddy that had a doe that was radio collared. IIRC, she was still alive at 17 and he no longer had access to the data to see how much longer she lived.

Surprising his antlers are so similar to the last picture as the first. How much did he change over the years? Was there a year that he threw other points off or stay about the same?

Thanks for sharing.

I shot a doe on my place last year that was pushing ten years. I have pics of her going back to 2010 and she was mature then (I'll bet a paycheck she was at least 3.5). She was very distinguishable by a scar on her nose and in 2016, she was still every other doe's nemesis. She was still full of vigor, still very active, and still producing twins.

In light of that, I have no issues believing a buck could reach the proposed age, especially one that may not participate heavily in the rut. Deer are amazing creatures, and whenever you think you've got them figured out, they show you something else. Is it the same buck? I have no idea, but that doesn't mean it's not possible.

agreed. Same genes but can't be same deer.

Why CAN'T it be?

This guy knows more about deer than most of us put together. He knows what he's talking about.

I posted pics of a 8 point buck earlier this year that is 14. Granted, me and another lease member have pics of him every year since 2007 to prove he is that old, but the point is they can and do get that old. Its obviously not the norm, but it does happen and I am surprised to see so many doubters.

Holy cow, my hat's off to you guys for your patience! I would've smoked him in 2007.

Edit: I read your post again and actually paid attention this time. Still cool pics of a awesome buck.

Yes, please explain why it can't be?

We had an angora goat that made 18 years, although her last three years she never left sight of the house.

TLK, enjoy all the photo’s you share. Love seeing the fruits of the time, energy, effort, not to mention money someone puts in to produce deer like yours on a low fence.

15 year old buck would be a walking bag of bones... the equivalent of a 110 year old man. Deer in the 2017 pic is healthy and no more than 6 years old in my opinion.

Here is an example pic of a 9-10 year old white tail buck for comparison.

I'm sure someone has seen this picture before. So how old is this buck?

Where did you get that pic from Dave? Being that y'all shoot every whitetail you see on your place, lol.

You failed to convince me with one random pic of an old buck and your opinion. And I disagree with that buck being a 6 year old in that 2017 pic. Way too much loose skin on the underside of his neck and brisket hanging from his chest. Stands way too flat on his hooves.

Bucks in the brush country that are protein fed and don't heavily participate in the rut can easily live to double digits and not be a walking bag of bones. I wish stxranchman was still around. He could show you pics of a few.

Cool pics.

Cool story and shame the loud mouth's. Only the people hunting that property every year knows the truth.

I don't find it impossible with a healthy herd even on a low fence place

Haven't seen it before now. Looks fully mature from the one front view pic. What's the story on him?

He's 11.5 in that pic. It's a well documented study of this bucks entire life span published in 2013. He lived on a deer sanctuary in New York and received supplemental feeding. He died of old age at 12.5. Very good article on the topic. The entire article and pics can be found here: https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/galleries/photo-gallery-from-buttons-to-booner