What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
- Ryan
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What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
I did some searching on here but couldn't find an exact thread, when you guys see a buck coming in what is the number one thing you look at to estimate his age, I guess it would be rack siZe, but where I hunt the deer aren't crazy big so what could I use to say Ya he is a mature buck?
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
If it bleeds, we can kill it . . . .
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Immature
Mature
The rack is the first thing you see when a buck pops out... but you need to look at the body.
I think this is where trailcams help a bunch... after looking at 1000s of photos from the areas you are hunting deer you will get a feel for what a mature buck looks like and what an immature deer looks like. In the field, if I don't know the animal through years of observation I base it off how they act/move/vocalize/dominance with other deer in the field. If they are solo/no history... I look at the head gear and decide shoot or not!
Mature
The rack is the first thing you see when a buck pops out... but you need to look at the body.
I think this is where trailcams help a bunch... after looking at 1000s of photos from the areas you are hunting deer you will get a feel for what a mature buck looks like and what an immature deer looks like. In the field, if I don't know the animal through years of observation I base it off how they act/move/vocalize/dominance with other deer in the field. If they are solo/no history... I look at the head gear and decide shoot or not!
Last edited by Bucky on Mon Jul 06, 2015 3:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
If it bleeds, we can kill it . . . .
- Horizontal Hunter
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Body size and shape is what I look at. The pictures Ozz posted says it all.
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- Hawthorne
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Mature bucks have a short leg appearance. Swaying back and pot belly. The face and head also will have have a distinct look. Young deer have short faces mature deer have longer and sometimes a Roman nose.
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Last edited by Hawthorne on Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
"When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values, with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." Fred Bear
- Dewey
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Sway in the back due to pot belly and well defined muscular looking brisket you don't usually see till 4 years old.
Rack size isn't usually a good way to age. I have seen young bucks with huge racks and old bucks with relatively small racks for their age. Antler mass will tell you more since that usually builds with age regardless of tine length.
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Rack size isn't usually a good way to age. I have seen young bucks with huge racks and old bucks with relatively small racks for their age. Antler mass will tell you more since that usually builds with age regardless of tine length.
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- ozzz
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Dewey wrote:Sway in the back due to pot belly and well defined muscular looking brisket you don't usually see till 4 years old.
Rack size isn't usually a good way to age. I have seen young bucks with huge racks and old bucks with relatively small racks for their age. Antler mass will tell you more since that usually builds with age regardless of tine length.
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Dewey, whats your opinion on the first buck I posted?
If it bleeds, we can kill it . . . .
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Everybody has had some good tips. I like the poster Bucky posted. Its all about body characteristics, not antlers.
Antlers are a very inaccurate way to judge age. There are 170 inch 3 year olds and 120 inch 6 year olds. Sure a buck tends to add mass as he ages but the range in how much mass antlers have varies a huge amount between animals. I have seen 3 year old bucks with more mass than 5 year old bucks. Not just a few - a lot.
There is a range in body types as well but its a much smaller range than in antlers, hence looking at bodies is much more accurate.
Antlers are a very inaccurate way to judge age. There are 170 inch 3 year olds and 120 inch 6 year olds. Sure a buck tends to add mass as he ages but the range in how much mass antlers have varies a huge amount between animals. I have seen 3 year old bucks with more mass than 5 year old bucks. Not just a few - a lot.
There is a range in body types as well but its a much smaller range than in antlers, hence looking at bodies is much more accurate.
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Bucky thats a great post
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
#1 is muscle/body mass.
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- Dewey
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
ozzz wrote:Dewey wrote:Sway in the back due to pot belly and well defined muscular looking brisket you don't usually see till 4 years old.
Rack size isn't usually a good way to age. I have seen young bucks with huge racks and old bucks with relatively small racks for their age. Antler mass will tell you more since that usually builds with age regardless of tine length.
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Dewey, whats your opinion on the first buck I posted?
I'm guessing no more than 3. Might even be a good 2 year old. The sleek summer coats can be deceiving.
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- Ryan
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
Thanks everyone for the responses and pictures that definitely helped, do you guys know why older bucks get a pot belly lol do they just not exercise enough anymore at old age
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Re: What's the #1 factor in estimating a deers age
hunter10 wrote:Bucky thats a great post
X2
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