So, being a Hill Country hunter all my life, I watched a scene Sunday morning that I've seen a few times, but really not all that often. 'Took this guy's picture, since my son was in another blind and I shoulda put him where I was. We were texting back and forth. (Apologies, it was just on a cell phone 30x enlarged.)



A few minutes later, a 10 entered from my right. He was built like a prize fighter, obviously older, kinda basket-horned (inside his ears), but dark with a fair amount of mass. I couldn't tell you if he was 5.5, 6.5, or older. He certainly didn't look decrepit. The 8 didn't just "defer", he left stage right, with a "I can probably find another feeder someplace else" look on his face. Every time this 10 just moved his head, the does didn't just move away, they bolted several yards away. He wasn't aggressive at all. He obviously knew he had the power. It was a gas to watch.

So, I know there's been endless discussions on here about the age of a deer based upon appearance, but what are your thoughts about age and the way other deer act around it? Is there an age that triggers an "oh crap" switch in the others, or is it an individual deer's "demeanor"?

I think deer know based on a number of factors, hormones being one. Body mass being two.

I know deer do a lot behind our eyes seeing that determines dominance as well. How often do you hear sparring but never see it. How often do you see a massive rub on a tree and know something big did that. A scrape and a rub will have hormonal scent left for any following deer to smell. They know who is around before they ever lay eyes on him personally.

We humans lay a lot of information on the nonverbal, just think what a nonverbal society (like WT deer) have to use to communicate and how effective that is.

^^^100%

older deer don't have the patience and will not play. They may get serious quickly and the younger ones arond them quickly realize this.

I would say age 6-7 for the type of buck you’re asking about…. they intimidate other deer number one because they don’t socialize and interact with the herd the way younger and real old deer do. They are usually much more developed as far as size and strength. And most carry a no nonsense demeanor IMO.

I think deer have personalities much like we do. Not always the biggest rack not always the biggest body just the biggest fight.

Hud nailed it. I have seen multiple times where an older buck, 5.5+, will suddenly slam a younger one to the ground for no obvious reason. It probably results in a reputation and a wide berth from the other deer.