I was hunting "management" bucks. Both these bucks in the pics were above the minimum for their age class. Both had broken tines and adding in the missing tines were well over the minimums.

I was looking for deer that were the lower end of their age classes and then below score minimums. I saw this buck one afternoon and took pictures of him since the buck had only been seen one morning in thick fog. The biologist/manager was the one that had seen him but could not judge him. I showed him the pics the next morning and both our guesses were close on what age/score we thought he was. I went back the next morning in the sleet/ice and luckily for me he came back in very early. I am lucky to have some great friends!

wow, what was the age class and minimum score for that buck? Great deer. Good friends indeed

Bucks that were 5 or older had to gross 180 or more to meet the ranch criteria. I had this buck at 7 yrs old and ran high end score guess to 178 gross(due to mass). I felt he was a legit 171 gross and after looking at pictures the biologist felt 172 gross. I always use high end score guess when shooting management deer that way there is no missing scores low. With my high end guess of 178 I knew he was to close to shoot without a second opinion. We both missed the broken fork on the right G2 that would have added about 4"-5" more to his score. He scored an even 170 gross without that extra.

Nice pics

Awesome pics sir and glad to have you back

That's allot of bone on those two bucks

Maybe one day I'll get to go to a ranch where a 170" is a management buck! (even if all I have is a camera!)

STX

Beautiful Bucks!

Was your age guess on that awesome management buck correct at 7?

I am weak at aging bucks over 5 and have always tried to learn from your pics and post. I would have said that buck was 5 or 6.

I did not look at his jaw afterwards since it was to late to do anything about the age at that point. I will get the jawbone when I pick up my mount and be able to tell me if I was right or wrong on my age guess. Here are some better pics to show his age. To me he had the "buffalo" look...huge shoulders and point rear end. Lot of loose skin in the brisket and bull hump on top of shoulders of a post mature buck also. IIRC he dressed 185 lbs. The ranch could not really remember this buck from the past to give me any history on him.

Beautiful pics!

and welcome back

Those last 2 pics really show the “buffalo look”. I have never heard of it referred to as that but it really makes sense in those pics.

Very mature I'd say 6 or 7..........

Awesome photos with the action and the snow in the background.

Thanks again everyone.

Great pics! Thanks!

I need to get a camera.

Beautiful bucks... I need better friends.

Beautiful Deer!

great pictures!