In the past my family always had leases in high hunted areas with ARs, so we never got much practice aging bucks. It was just take the bucks that were legal. This year, we are on a new lease (larger with less pressure), so we are wanting to get better at aging deer. Here are three bucks and I would like your opinions on them. The first two, we believe are pretty mature, and the last one, we are leaning toward letting him walk this year. Thanks for any input you can give.

Yes on the first, let the second and third walk (just my opinion)

Gordon Whittington has a CD on scoring and ageing deer, he is the best.

They are all mature IMO......6+

I don't see 6+ on the second one. A little squint to the eyes, not sloped downwards rear to front, protruding brisket but belly doesn't look bad, and he doesn't look nearly as "worn" with the exception of some fur on the hind quarter

Either way, there are some good genes at play. Up to you if you want to take them or not.

From one pic of each I would put the top buck at post mature 7+ and in it shows pretty much. The other two are a bit more difficult and the second buck appears to be more 5 yr old from the angle his looking/standing. More pics and he might look different. The last buck appears to be 5 in that one pic but shows some characteristics of a post mature buck though. I would put him at mature for sure from one pic. More pics might change how the look for age or may not. The top buck would be #1 on my hit list if I hunted there out of the 3. The others would get a pass if they were less than 7.

2nd buck is a definite pass, but the other two sure have some mature/post mature tendencies.

1st buck looks post-mature to me and the oldest of the 3.

2nd one is very difficult to tell from just this picture but looks mature to me and either 5 or 6.

3rd one looks like either a very healthy 4 year old, or a 5 year old. I don't see the deep brisket of the other two deer or a drop in the front of that brisket like they get at 5+.


More pics of all 3 definitely would help.