Posted By: NBH
thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/10/14 10:44 PM
Posted By: stxranchman
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/10/14 11:28 PM
Looked older in some pics and a bit younger in the last pic. I would call him a 4yr old at least.
Posted By: ACKHNTR
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 01:53 AM
I say 5, here in a few weeks he's really going to start showing his age.
Posted By: NBH
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 01:58 AM
he is #1 on my hit list. But I guess I really need to study up on the aging on the deer! Thanks for yalls input so far!
Posted By: Perfect 8
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 02:00 AM
At least 4.5 maybe more ... I agree his age will show about the time bow season opens and the hormones start to build.
Posted By: ACKHNTR
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 02:04 AM
That high rise ten in the background looks plenty mature also!
Posted By: NBH
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 02:06 AM
I got more pics of him too but not any that are really good and clear
Posted By: BOBO the Clown
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 02:34 AM
Velvet deer are the hardest to age.
Keep your trail cam photos and give each buck a folder , then compare after they get closer to rut. Betting he is 4 though
Posted By: therancher
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 03:36 AM
It is VERY hard to age deer on the hoof accurately.
At BEST people should only hope to get within one year either side. Unless it's a yearling or a really old deer.
So now, what difference does it make if it's 3.5, or 4.5? There are SOOOO many uncontrollables that are going to determine his antler growth next year, which means you really can't guarantee if he's going to be significantly better at 4.5 or 5.5, than he is this year.
It is my experience that deer (both wild and penned) have their best antlers between 7.5 and 9.5. I know, conventional knowledge says 5.5-6.5. But maybe my deer are just unconventional.
Anyway, long way around to this: if you like the deer, shoot the deer. Especially if it's on a low fenced ranch with neighbors within a mile. Even if it's a high fenced ranch. Are you really going to get a lot more inches for a year's worth of feed? Sometimes you do, most of the time you don't.
Posted By: JMalin
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 01:20 PM
It is VERY hard to age deer on the hoof accurately.
At BEST people should only hope to get within one year either side. Unless it's a yearling or a really old deer.
So now, what difference does it make if it's 3.5, or 4.5? There are SOOOO many uncontrollables that are going to determine his antler growth next year, which means you really can't guarantee if he's going to be significantly better at 4.5 or 5.5, than he is this year.
It is my experience that deer (both wild and penned) have their best antlers between 7.5 and 9.5. I know, conventional knowledge says 5.5-6.5. But maybe my deer are just unconventional.
Anyway, long way around to this: if you like the deer, shoot the deer. Especially if it's on a low fenced ranch with neighbors within a mile. Even if it's a high fenced ranch. Are you really going to get a lot more inches for a year's worth of feed? Sometimes you do, most of the time you don't.
Quite a few biologists in south texas have the same sentiments. When they get to 7.5+, they aren't actively rutting as hard as when they were younger and more nutrition can be devoted to antler growth the following spring instead of having to put on weight lost during a hard rut.
Posted By: Navasot
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 01:32 PM
It is VERY hard to age deer on the hoof accurately.
At BEST people should only hope to get within one year either side. Unless it's a yearling or a really old deer.
So now, what difference does it make if it's 3.5, or 4.5? There are SOOOO many uncontrollables that are going to determine his antler growth next year, which means you really can't guarantee if he's going to be significantly better at 4.5 or 5.5, than he is this year.
It is my experience that deer (both wild and penned) have their best antlers between 7.5 and 9.5. I know, conventional knowledge says 5.5-6.5. But maybe my deer are just unconventional.
Anyway, long way around to this: if you like the deer, shoot the deer. Especially if it's on a low fenced ranch with neighbors within a mile. Even if it's a high fenced ranch. Are you really going to get a lot more inches for a year's worth of feed? Sometimes you do, most of the time you don't.
The area your in will have a lot to do with that along with CC and population.
Posted By: tShawnB
Re: thinking maybe a 3.5 yearold? - 09/11/14 01:50 PM
He is 4 all day. If you wanted to call him 4 plus to cover any maybes or what ifs, go ahead. Good one to shoot.
