Located in NTX. Have this buck here who has become a frequent visitor to the feeder pretty much 2x a day. I have sat and watched him a handful of times already. I'm pretty sure hes a 4.5yo as I saw a few pics of him last year, but no idea what he'd score. I would would really like to let him walk after seeing the growth from last year, but know he wont make it come rifle season. On the fence this year on what to do.

I think he is 5 + unless you feed a bunch of protein, but that's just me. Boom.

Looks mature enough.

I agree. Looks mature to me and since you have seen him a few times already and not shot, I think you made up your mind. i understand you comment about that may not make it come rifle season (I assume other hunters or neighbor hunters). Would be a very nice bow deer for sure and if this is largest, most mature deer in your area then take him if you want.

Yeah, I'd be loading that toad.

5 yr old and looks to be around upper 130's to 140. For me, with a bow....I would shoot him in a heartbeat on my land. The only way I would hold off is if there are larger bucks on cam or known to be in the area.

Definitely was not easy to let it walk since it would be the biggest deer of my life, was just on the fence of being a 4 or 5yo. He wont be slipping away again

X2

Looks 5 to me and 145+

Just in case we are neighbors.....let him go!!! I think he could be 6

I think you're right, he looks a little better scoring to me on 2nd look.

I am seeing 5.5 but more inches that most


16-17 IS
44-46 MB
30-31 Mass
90-94 Down

6 1s
16 2s
19 3s
10 4s
4 fork (cant tell if right side is a fork as well)
55 up or a little better


I'm seeing mid to upper 40s

Hell of a buck

Wacoducks, I have the same issue at our place in Navarro County. I passed on a couple of Bucks the last few years that were never seen again. That dude would not get a second look from me in Navarro. He'd be ground checked in either Bow or Rifle season.

I’m Closer to you. I also scheduled STX an eye appointment

If...if..that buck has 10" ears then I am on board with your guesses...but if I agreed with both of you then we would all be wrong. I had 141 when I added him up but with those photos I went down a little on my score.

I always thought he closed his eyes when scoring a buck and simply relied on the force?

There are outfitter scores, self scored scores, official scores and STX scores!!! You don’t want the STX scores. add 3% and you get official score.

Stx use his tape to tie off and drag off dead hogs. It's stretched!!!!

Personally I stick mine in freezer for at least two full days.

Going hard in the paint.... Then crawfished right out

Yeah...I crawfished down a whole inch from 141 to 140....

If he'll make you happy, he's definitely old enough. If you want to shoot him because you worried about someone else shooting him, well.......I guess you do that too. Really nice deer to me but not everyone has the same measuring bar. I've shot enough over the years that I prefer to thin hogs and save the deer for my kids / grandkids to enjoy these days. Everyone has different motivations to squeeze the trigger and that would be a fine deer for most folks, I suspect. Good Luck whatever you decide!

Ground check

4.5 yrs old is what I see. But he could be a fooler. Neck line and leggy appearance says 3.5. Barrel shaped body says 4.5. Deep head with distance from eye to jawline close to same as eye to nose says 5.5. I went 4.5, which is generally the first year you get to see what a deers antlers are going to do as a mature animal. If he was older than that he would be a deer you would likely already recognize. Score low 140’s. Shoot or no shoot depends on what your harvest goals and those around you are. Good luck he is a pretty buck.

Heck, I didn't even see your guess on the score.

And STX is looking at these pics on a 16 year old iphone with a 1.5"x3" screen............of course he is low as usual

He's mature. I wouldn't split hairs unless you're hunting a huge place and you can track your deer easily year to year.

I’d do it and not look back. He’s a good deer that you’ll think of forever if you pass again and then never see him in the coming years.