Please tell me he's at least 3 1/2

I don't get many bucks like this where I hunt he looks at least 3 1/2 to me what do you think?

Shoot him if you like him and be happy about it

I plan on it just trying to get better at aging them.

Looks younger than 3 1/2 to me but agree with Red!

Ok!

IMO a trophy is relative to where you hunt. S. Texas guys wouldn't give him a second look but if thats a nice buck for your area I say shoot him and be proud of it.

He's 3.5. The deer with him is 2.5. Good luck on getting your trophy!

This. Good luck!!

Was my thoughts as well.

Kind of what I was thinking looking at the buck next to him. His hind legs are much higher.

He's 3.5

He's definitely at least 3.5. Like you I don't see many like that at our place and would love to shoot that deer. Good luck!

Maybe the reason you don’t see many deer of this caliber is because they are getting shot at 3 1/2

Good Luck this season!

Thank you very much, you too

Good Luck he will look good on the wall!

He's 3.5

this...

The best way to get better aging them is to observe their mannerisms and size compared to young and middle aged deer.

If you like to shoot 3.5 year old bucks like that one great, but you can't observe mature bucks if you don't let them live past 4.5.

Good luck this season.

Thanks for the input and I agree. The problem I have is I'm on a very small property the entire area around me is full of hunters. Very rare to see a 4 1/2 year old or older in this county. Tons of does and lots of young bucks, so many it will get better in time. Thanks again

3. No 5 year olds?

100%

I'd like to see more photos if you have any. His brisket looks like if could be that of a deer older than 3 and the sunken forehead gives me that impression as well.

That's a monster in NE Texas! In my neck of the woods, many deer do not have brow tines.

KnoxCityNate I hear what you are saying 100%. I rarely see others on the forum with the same issue but I like yourself hunt a small property with tremendous hunting pressure on the other side of each fence line. While I am all for harvesting mature deer, it's hard to let a deer like that walk when you know for a fact a neighbor will kill that deer the second they get a chance. Like you, we very rarely see 4.5-5.5 yr old bucks.

Nate - Thanks for those other photos. If I had to place a bet, I'd say that deer is 4 going on 4.5. His rump is filled out, lost the slope to his nose and his brisket is filling out, not to mention the sunken forehead in your first set of photos. My opinion and is only worth as much as you paid for it.

Nice 3.5 slick 8. It is better that you take him than the neighbors.

You are correct the neighbors always end up shooting them

if you like shoot him, if you are in an area that gets pressure from surrounding areas, he might not get a chance to get older.

He's still pretty leggy, so he'll eat good! Compare his legs to the other deer. Look shorter? They're really not, but his body's deeper. I don't see 3.5 on this one. I see 2.5 and 1.5 on the other. If I liked him, and I do, he'd be in my freezer.

Thanks for all the comments