Some other views would help but I think he's young, no more than 3.5. If the date in the picture is correct I don't think he's was necessarily rutted down when that pic was snapped - I think he's a youngster and needs to eat and grow. Best of luck.
"The world is littered with the bodies of people that tried to stick it to ole J.R."
I only have him on camera once this year. The correct date is December 7th.I been having some issues with my camera. Thank your for the assistance. I thought he was young also. Hopefully I will see him again next year.
I only have him on camera once this year. The correct date is December 7th.I been having some issues with my camera. Thank your for the assistance. I thought he was young also. Hopefully I will see him again next year.
No way that deer is 3.5, min Rutted down 4.5 year old, low 40’s.
Picture doesn’t have enough detail to call him five, but if you had a late oct pic there is a slim chance it might show 5.5
Regardless it looks stereotypical 4.5 as is
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, b/c they know not victory nor defeat"- #26 TR
I only have him on camera once this year. The correct date is December 7th.I been having some issues with my camera. Thank your for the assistance. I thought he was young also. Hopefully I will see him again next year.
No way that deer is 3.5, min Rutted down 4.5 year old, low 40’s.
Picture doesn’t have enough detail to call him five, but if you had a late oct pic there is a slim chance it might show 5.5
Regardless it looks stereotypical 4.5 as is
Rutted down Nov. 7? I would be looking for a lot more muscle in the neck and shoulders on that date.....
A lot depends on the location in the state for rut date. I'd have a hard time calling him a 3 year old. I think many like to under age him because they didn't get him and are dreaming of what he could be next year because he was so young this year. I know I tend to do that and after more time comparing to other deer over the years and pictures throughout the season we come to the conclusion they are older than we think.
Also think the cam caught him mid stride and his stance makes him harder to age.
If the real date of the picture is 7Dec rather than 7Nov, then I agree that he is likely to be rutted down. There are still a lot of factors that can go into how much weight a buck can lose given that time of the season.
"The world is littered with the bodies of people that tried to stick it to ole J.R."
If the real date of the picture is 7Dec rather than 7Nov, then I agree that he is likely to be rutted down. There are still a lot of factors that can go into how much weight a buck can lose given that time of the season.
I agree and stand corrected on the date being December but that being said IME they lose their fat being rutted down, not their muscle.
[quote=wsjaxIV]If the real date of the picture is 7Dec rather than 7Nov, then I agree that he is likely to be rutted down. There are still a lot of factors that can go into how much weight a buck can lose given that time of the season.
Thet loose both later in the season but first the fat on the outter layer gets reduced, then muscles start to shrink with lack of calories, then as test levels start to drop and they go into winter feeding and muscle structure really resides and fat starts coming back. You cant stay all muscled up with limited calories coming in. It’s a down hill road as soon as rut starts.
Think of HS football plates in Aug and what they look like in Dec... that’s just athletic stress, cut test levels and they will really shrink up.
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, b/c they know not victory nor defeat"- #26 TR
I only have him on camera once this year. The correct date is December 7th.I been having some issues with my camera. Thank your for the assistance. I thought he was young also. Hopefully I will see him again next year.
No way that deer is 3.5, min Rutted down 4.5 year old, low 40’s.
Picture doesn’t have enough detail to call him five, but if you had a late oct pic there is a slim chance it might show 5.5
Regardless it looks stereotypical 4.5 as is
Rutted down Nov. 7? I would be looking for a lot more muscle in the neck and shoulders on that date.....
For that area of the state they rut in October and are done in November for the most part. I would call him a rutted down 5 yr old from what I can see of his hocks. 4.5 minimum. I would say he is mid 130's on score.