Troy,

This buck looks to be 3.5 years old. Although this buck appears to be slightly worn down from the rut, he has quite well developed shoulders and brisket. His front shoulders are larger than his rear hams. Also, his front legs appear to be short for his body. These are a signs of an older deer. 

Deer are seen regularly missing tuffs of hair missing. This could have been caused by fighting, or simply crossing under a fence as well. The buck appears to be a little thinner than normal, but late winter is a known stress period for deer. I do not see any signs that would lead to a more serious injury or illness. There are many possibilities that may occur between now and then, but I would think if he remains healthy, you will be chasing him next fall. 

Yes, deer need mineral all year round. We keep our mineral out during every month of the year for this reason. 

Best wishes next season,

GrowingDeer together, 

Matt Dye 

2016-02-18

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Weston,

That buck appeared to be a fighter – and maybe not a very good one!  He had a beautiful set of antlers! 

When deer have had a broken jaw, abscessed tooth, etc., it’s difficult to estimate the bucks age using the tooth wear and replacement system.  This is because we assume the bit pattern, etc., was altered and therefore the rate of tooth wear.  

Congratulations on a nice buck!

Enjoy creation,

grant

February 8, 2016

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Brock,

Thanks for sending us the photo! Glad that you use the Ask Grant section to continue educating yourself about wildlife management. 

This is a great looking buck, I would be excited to have him on our property as well! 

The last picture you sent offers one of the best views for accurately aging this buck. I would estimate this buck to be 3.5 years old. In the fourth picture, the buck has a very clear break between its neck and brisket. However, other features like this buck’s shoulders and mid section appear to be rather large. The buck’s front legs appear short for this deer, another good sign of an older deer. The date in this photo is especially significant to look at. This is generally considered a stress time period for deer. This can mean body condition is not in it’s normal state. We have witnessed many of our mature bucks this season lose body mass during the late season. I believe the same has occurred in regards to this buck as some other body characteristics appear more mature than his neck/brisket line. 

I hope this deer stays a regular on your trail cameras until next deer season. 

GrowingDeer Together, 

Matt Dye 

2016-02-07

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Landon,

Wow, what a great looking buck! I’m sure these pictures were on your mind at the beginning of season! 

Looking over this buck’s body characteristics, I would estimate him to be 4.5+ years old. This buck very well developed front shoulders. You can see when looking at him broadside that his front shoulders are larger than his back hams. Also this buck’s neck extends all the way down to the bottom of his brisket! These are all sure signs that this buck has reached maturity. 

Thanks for sending these photos! 

GrowingDeer Together, 

Matt Dye 

2015-02-06

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Wayne,

Looks like a great buck! After looking over these images, I believe this buck is 3.5 years old. Overall his body appears to be lean in comparison to a fully mature buck. His shoulders are not well developed. He will be add mass to his shoulders and neck area over the next year.  Also, the base of circumference around his antlers are smaller than 4 inches. This buck will most likely add mass to his bases as he ages. 

This is a great looking buck and one that will certainly make the hit-list next year! 

GrowingDeer Together,

-Matt Dye

2016-02-05 

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Wayne, 

Thanks for sending us the picture, it is always nice to see new deer appear on camera even after season closes. 

Unfortunately this buck is facing the camera so it makes aging a little difficult, however I think he quartering to enough that we can make a solid estimate. 

Looking at the belly line of this buck, it appears to be thin and sagging has not occurred. In addition to this the neck appears rather thin as it joins the brisket area. Also, the base of circumference of the antlers is smaller than his eye. These characteristics all point to this buck being 3.5 years old. He is a great buck to have show up for next season. 

Thanks for sharing! 

GrowingDeer Together, 

-Matt Dye

2016-01-31

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Stephen, 

Thanks for sending these pictures! These are some good looking bucks. 

Both of these bucks appear to be 2.5 years old. Each have hair that is standing up on their coat in an attempt to retain more heat, so it looks like they are larger than what they really are. Both buck’s back hams are noticeably larger than the front shoulders. These bucks both have plenty of mass that they will add over the next few years. A lot of this additional mass will be devoted to the front shoulders. I would be very excited to see these deer on our place. 

GrowingDeer Together,

Matt Dye

2016-01-31

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Alex,

Great looking pictures in the snow! Deer are beautiful creatures. 

The steep downward angle of the deer on the slope as well as the head on view make it really difficult to accurately age deer on the hoof. Do you have any other pictures of this buck in a different posture or position? If so, please send them to us and we will gladly look through them to age this deer!

This is a great looking buck, I would be tickled to see him on my camera during the daylight! 

GrowingDeer Together,

Matt Dye

2016-01-26

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Jack,

Thanks for the picture and additional information, it helps to make a proper estimation of this buck’s age. 

Looking over the picture, I believe this buck to be 2.5 years old. You can see the brisket clearly as the neck doesn’t merge directly with it. The neck appears to merge with the chest cavity about a 1/3 of the way up the shoulders. Also, the rear hams appear to be large in this picture. This bucks shoulders and front half of it’s body will develop more mass over time, making it appear that there is more weight to the front half of his body. 

This buck will be one to watch over the next few years!

Thanks for sending in the picture. Stay warm in Ontario! 

GrowingDeer Together, 

-Matt 

2016-01-26

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Robert,

Congratulations on the harvest! Thanks for sending us these great pictures! 

Aging deer by examining the jaw bone is not 100% accurate, nevertheless this method can still provide you with a very good estimate of how old the deer is. We generally start by looking at the fourth tooth from the front, as this is the oldest tooth in a jaw. We are specifically examining the wearing and staining present on the tooth. This tooth has a good amount of staining as well as wear, so we move one more tooth back. This next tooth has staining present, but the wear pattern is not as extreme on this tooth. Noting this and looking over all of the other indicators, I feel very confident this buck is no younger than 3.5, but could have the potential to be 4.5!

Thanks for the great images! 

GrowingDeer together, 

-Matt Dye

2016-01-26

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Stephen,

Thanks a nice Ozark Mountain buck!  It appears his neck merges with his chest at his brisket.  His chest sags below where his leg meets his shoulder. These are indicators the buck is four years old or older. I estimate he is four.  I rarely take time to accurately estimate a buck’s score – sorry.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 24, 2016

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Robert,

There are three primary methods to fairly accurately estimate a buck’s age.   These include cementum annuli, tooth replacement and wear, and body shape.

Cementum annuli is a technique where the a deer’s incisor is sectioned and “growth rings” are counted after the section has been stained.  For more detailed information about this technique check out:  http://www.matsonslab.com/cementum-aging.html

Deer replace their premolars at about the same age with permanent teeth.  The permanent teeth tend to wear at about the same rate and expose more dentene (the material under the enamel).  Thus by consider which teeth have been replaced and the amount of dentene exposed fairly accurate estimates of a deer’s age can be made.

For living deer, their body configuration changes with time in predictable ways.  I’ve explained this in detail in the How Old is this Buck section of Ask Grant.

Enjoy creation,

Grant

January 24, 2016

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Gabe, 

Those are nice bucks!  Unfortunately neither buck offers a full broadside view so their age can’t be accurately estimated.  It appears the neck of the buck in the first picture merges with the chest well above his brisket. If this is accurate then the buck is probably two or three years old.  

All deer seek quality food, cover, and water resources that aren’t associated with danger.  You may wish to try moving your cameras, etc., to areas that deer don’t associate with danger.  It’s possible these bucks’ home ranges just barely includes the area you hunt and they only frequent that part of their home range occasionally.  

Late summer is a great time to determine which bucks are in an area.  Be sure and have your cameras out before next season in areas where the preferred food, cover, or water is for that time of year/conditions.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 22, 2016

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Question

Grant, I have been seeing this buck on camera regularly. His most frequent times at this tree are around 6 AM and 10 PM. I have two questions: 1) Can you estimate how old he is? 2) What should my strategy be to see him in person and possibly get a shot at him?

Here he is on camera:

https://youtu.be/AJ1Pd0Bc3lw

Jason,

This buck’s neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  In addition his back and belly lines are very straight.  His shoulder are muscular but not fully developed. Estimate this buck is two or three years old.  

It may be best to move your camera/stand closer to where you believe he is bedding to see him during daylight hours. The area where these videos were taken is very open.   Unless the area receives minimal hunting pressure I suspect deer will primarily use that are during the cover of darkness.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 21, 2016 

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Terry,

This buck’s neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and his chest and shoulders aren’t fully developed. I estimate this buck is one or two years old depending on the local habitat quality.  

Deer move at night usually because they’ve been alerted during the day.  There may be lots of hunting pressure in this area. You may try moving the camera and/or stand closer to the bedding area.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 21, 2016

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Grant,

That is a good looking buck! It looks like he maybe be using a tree plot that was recently planted! 

Looking over the body characteristics of this buck there are a few things to note that will depict his is age. His front shoulders to appear to be larger and pretty well developed. However looking closer, he has a very thin belly line and not a fully developed stomach. In front of the shoulders you can see even when his head is lowered that his neck will not merge evenly with his brisket, the typical sign of a mature whitetail.  

These characteristics all point to this buck being 3.5 years of age. 

He will be a great looking buck for the coming hunting season! 

GrowingDeer Together,

Matt Dye

2016-1-17

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Melissa,

Congratulations to the hunter that tagged that buck!  

It’s very tough to be sure a wild free-ranging deer is the same as seen during a previous year without genetic testing or a definitive scar, etc.  You may know this is the same buck. I didn’t notice any scars or characteristics that would give me great confidence it was the same buck.  

Excessive moisture tends to leach nutrients very deep in the soil making them unavailable to plants, especially annual forbs that deer prefer.  Therefore even though there’s more plant growth, there’s often less nutrients per pound of forage consumed.  

Another factor is that excessive moisture can result in higher parasite populations, etc.  Normal or slightly better than normal rainfall years tend to produce the best crop and critter growing conditions.  

Broadside pictures of bucks in a “normal” posture are best for estimating a buck’s age.  The best picture is one from 2014 and I still estimate that buck as 3 years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 6, 2016

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Ethan,

That’s a nice buck!  It’s necessary to see the entire buck to make an accurate estimate of his age. In addition, it helps to know the quality of the habitat where he lives.  Does the buck have access to corn and soybeans or is the local area primarily pasture and timber?

Enjoy creation,

grant

January 1, 2015

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Stacy,

It’s tough to accurately estimate the age of bucks when they aren’t standing on level ground.  

It appears this buck’s neck merges with his chest slightly above his brisket. His shoulders and hams don’t appear fully developed.  I believe the hump over his shoulder is due to his hind feet being on higher ground than his front feet.  His antler bases appear to have a smaller diameter than his eyes.  These are all indicators of a buck that’s isn’t mature. I estimate this buck is two or three years old.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 27, 2015

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Stacy,

It’s tough to accurately estimate the age of bucks when they aren’t standing on level ground.  

It appears this buck’s neck merges with his chest slightly above his brisket. His shoulders and hams don’t appear fully developed.  I believe the hump over his shoulder is due to his hind feet being on higher ground than his front feet.  His antler bases appear to have a smaller diameter than his eyes.  These are all indicators of a buck that’s isn’t mature. I estimate this buck is two or three years old.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 27, 2015

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Eric ,

You are correct – it is very tough to accurately estimate the age of bucks from a frontal view.  It appears his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and that he’s very muscular.  I suspect this buck is younger than older but I’m not comfortable refining my estimate further based on this image.  I don’t see signs of senility, saggy back or belly, etc.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 24, 2015

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Jacob,

Congratulations on tagging a nice buck!  It’s very tough to accurately estimate a buck’s age based on a post harvest picture because the body shape and proportions can’t be accurately judged.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 23, 2015

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Garrett,

Thanks for sharing the kind words!  

Those are nice quality pictures!  As you know, estimating a deer’s age using the wear and replacement technique isn’t 100% accurate.  It appears this deer had an abscess that may have caused an different rate of wear than normal.  Taking that into consideration, I estimate this deer was at least 5.5 years old and maybe older.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 21, 2015 

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Andy,

Congratulations on a father/son double!  

I appears the buck you tagged has an injured rear leg.  This could be from fighting, accident, etc.

Unless you saw signs of infection while processing the deer the meat should be fine for consumption!  

It’s tough to accurately estimate the buck’s age because he’s walking away from the camera and doesn’t have normal posture due to the injury.  

Looks like you tagged a fighter!

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 16, 2015 

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Braxton,

I agree with you.  Based on the picture being taken during December I believe is four years old. His shoulders are larger than his hams and his neck merges with chest at his brisket. This buck has probably been very active during the rut and has lost some weight – so he appears thin. I suspect he had a much larger body before the rut!

He’d be on my hit list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 16, 2015

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Edward,

That sounds like a fun hunt!  The body characteristics you shared indicate this is a mature buck.

Aging deer on the hoof is always an estimate and it seems like most characteristics except the staining of his tarsal glands indicated a mature buck.  I suggest you give him a close look next time and if you agree with your original observations tag him!

Bucks, like humans, don’t all show their age the same way.  I evaluate several factors and go with the majority.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 14, 2015 

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Dustin,

That’s a nice looking buck!  It’s very tough to estimate the age of bucks when they are quartering away from the camera. I can’t see where his neck merges with his chest or if his belly and back sag. It’s also helpful to know where the buck is from – the quality of habitat.  Just like humans, the bodies of deer living in areas of poor habitat age quicker than those living in better quality habitat.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 13, 2015 

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Grant,

That’s a cool looking buck!  It appears his neck merges with his chest at his brisket and that his shoulders are well developed.  HIs antler bases have a larger diameter than his eyes.  These are all indicators of a mature buck.  I estimate the buck is four years old or older and would be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 10, 2015

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Issac,

Those are nice bucks!  They appear to have large antler bases and that’s an indicator of mature deer.  However without knowing the quality of habitat or seeing pictures of them alive and broadside to the camera it would be very difficult to accurately estimate their age.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 10, 2015

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John,

You should read through several of the How Old is This Buck questions and answers at the Ask Grant tab at GrowingDeer.com.  I share many examples with specific details at that tab.  

I look at where the neck merges with the chest, how developed the shoulders are, if the chest sags below where his shoulders meets his legs, does his back and belly sag, etc.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 10, 2015

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Jason,

The best view for estimating a buck’s age is when the deer is perpendicular to the camera and his head is up.  Other factors that help increase the accuracy of the estimate is knowing where the buck is living (state) and the local habitat quality (primarily timber, soybeans and corn, etc.).

Based on what I can see and know about this buck it appears his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  His back and belly don’t sag and his front shoulders are not fully developed.  His chest doesn’t sag below where his leg meets his shoulder.  If you cover his antlers his body appears like a doe.  These are all indicators of a 2.5 year old or younger buck.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 6, 2015

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Bill,

It’s a bit tough to be accurate when the area and/or habitat type isn’t included.  It appears this buck’s shoulders are well developed. His chest seems to sag below where his leg meets his shoulder.  These are indicators the buck is four years old or older. 

The buck’s back and belly don’t sag. This may be due to posture and that it’s November 30th and he’s lost a lot of weight during the rut.  There is minimal staining on his tarsal gland.  I estimate this buck is three or four years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 4, 2015 

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Nash,

Deer tend to change their body shape in a consistent pattern as they age – like horses, etc.  

Check out my responses to questions in the Ask Grant How Old is This section.  I shared a lot of detail about what body characteristics I used to estimate lots of bucks in those pictures.

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 3, 2015

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Hunter,

That’s a good looking buck!  Thanks for including where the buck lives.

It appears his neck merges with his chest above his brisket and his shoulders aren’t fully developed.  Its tough to be certain due to his posture but it seems his back and belly don’t sag.  

I estimate this buck to be 3 years old.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 28, 2015

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Matt,

Thanks for the additional information!  

Based on these images and information I estimate this buck was at least four years old during 2013.  His neck merged with his chest at his brisket – even during August!  His shoulders appear fully developed and he has a buffalo shape (shoulders much larger than his hams).

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 19, 2015 

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Matt,

That’s a nice buck!  If his molars were worn smooth then the buck was certainly very mature.  It’s tough to accurately estimate the age bucks based on images when the buck’s head is down.  This tends to distort their posture and body shape.  

It’s also very helpful to know the location or habitat quality (local land primarily timbered or covered with corn and soybeans).  

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 19, 2015

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Andrew,

Those are some nice bucks!  The antler bases of buck in the first picture don’t appear to have as large of diameter as his antler bases. His shoulders and hams don’t appear to be fully developed. Without knowing the state or quality of habitat I loosely estimate this buck is 3 years old.  If the buck is living where the habitat is very poor he could easily be older.

The buck in the second image has much larger antler bases.  His shoulders are well developed and his chest sags below where his leg meets his shoulder. I estimate this buck is at least four years old!

It’s very difficult to accurately estimate the age of bucks when they are facing the camera. I can’t tell enough about the buck in the third picture to accurately estimate his age.

The shoulder of the buck in the fourth picture is very well developed. His chest clearly sags below where his shoulder meets his leg and it appears his back and belly sag. If these observations are correct this buck is four years old or older.

I hope you have an encounter with one of those bucks soon!

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 17, 2015

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Adam,

This buck’s neck merges with his chest above his brisket.  In the first picture his shoulders and hams don’t appear fully developed and his back and belly don’t sag.  I estimate this buck to be three years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 16, 2015

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Connor,

Thanks for letting us know what area these pictures were take from. This allows us to be more accurate in our estimate. Looking at the pictures, it is a little difficult to age with the deer facing head on, but you can still clearly see that the neck does not extend all the way down to its brisket. I would say this buck is roughly 2.5 or 3.5 years old. If you have any other pictures of the buck broadside, we may be able to get a closer estimate for you. 

Thanks for posting! 

Growing deer together, 

Matt

2015-11-16 

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Jeremy, 

Congratulations on your harvest! I’m glad to hear you were able to get out this season despite your injury. 

Looking at these photos, I believe these bucks to be 1.5 years old. These bucks will continue to grow in size a develop more mass as they age. By this time next year they will have reached your 2.5 year old goal. I’m impressed by you setting goals and actively managing food plots. We have found Eagle Seed Broadside(http://www.eagleseed.com/BROADSIDE.html) to be a great fall time food plot, it is easy to plant and yields great results. This work will continue to be beneficial for you and your local deer herd.

I know the Woods’ family truly appreciates your prayers! 

Growing deer together,

Matt 

2015-11-16

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Robert,

Congratulations again on tagging a buck!

Either the buck in your picture isn’t standing on level ground or he has a very odd body shape.  Either way, I’m not confident I can accurately estimate this buck’s age.

Let me know if you get a picture of his buck where he’s posture is normal.

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 12, 2015

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David,

The buck in your picture is tough for me to accurately estimate his age.  His antler bases are relatively small compared to the diameter of his eyes.(he’s blind in one eye).  This is an indicator of an immature buck. However, his shoulders appear well developed and his neck merges with his chest at his brisket.  In addition his chest sags below where his shoulder meets his leg. These are all indicators of a mature buck.

I’m hesitate to venture a guess. If you tag him please have a local wildlife biologist look at his lower jaw and estimate his age!

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 11, 2015

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Hayden,

Congratulations to your son!  That’s a great picture and someone did a wonderful job cleaning the jaw!!

Based on the wear and replacement technique it appears his first and second molars (fourth and fifth teeth back) are showing more dentine (brown stuff in the middle) than enamel. This indicates the bucks is at least four years old!  

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 11, 2015

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Brian,

You can attached an image using the Ask Grant tab/form. Please tell me the state the deer is from and include a pic that shows the buck broadside with his head up!

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 9, 2015

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Joey,

Thank you for providing the location and habitat quality!

This buck has much potential!  It appears his neck merges with his chest above his brisket.  His back and belly don’t sag and his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his let.  I estimate this buck is three years old. He’s a fine buck now and will be a whopper if he stays healthy for another year or two!  

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 4, 2015

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Garett,

I don’t know where (what state) this deer lives or the quality of the habitat.  It appears his shoulders aren’t fully developed and his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his chest.  His neck merges with his chest above his brisket. I estimate this deer is three years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 2, 2015

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Wade,

That’s a nice buck! It tough to accurately estimate a buck’s age from pics when they are quartering to the camera.  it appears his neck merges with his chest at his brisket.  That’s an indicator of a mature buck!

Enjoy creation,

grant

November 2, 2015

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Blake,

It appears this buck’s shoulders aren’t fully developed. They are smaller than his hams.  His chest doesn’t sag to where his leg meets his shoulder.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  When I cover his antlers his body appears like that of a mature doe. These are all indicators this bucks is two years old.  

If your goal is to tag a three year old buck I’d probably give this one a pass.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 29, 2015

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Austin,

Great looking buck! I would feel confident in saying this buck is 3.5 years old. The buck’s neck does not extend completely extend to the bottom of his brisket and it is slimmer than that of a fully mature buck. Across this buck’s body, he will gain mass most noticeably in his chest and neck. 

I do not typically rough score deer just so the buck is not identified by an antler score. However, this buck would score in the low 130’s.

I hope you have a great season!

Growing deer together,

-Matt 

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Jeremy,

Wow, that is exciting! We don’t often get to estimate age on black-tails, so thanks for sharing! Congrats to your brother for his harvest as well. 

The younger of the bucks, the first and third picture, appears to be 1.5 years of age. He is sporting his first year of antlers. It will be neat to see how he develops! 

The other buck in the second and fourth picture looks to be 2.5 years old. You can see he has a larger more developed neck as well as more overall mass throughout his body. 

Best wishes this season! 

Growing deer together, 

-Matt

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DC,

First off, congrats on the harvest! That is a great buck no matter what part of the country you are in! 

Aging deer on the hoof is a great skill to develop if you spend a lot of time in the deer woods. 

After looking over these pictures I believe you are absolutely correct in aging the 10 pointer. He is a great looking buck with defined characteristics that clearly show signs of a three and a half year old. As for the 8 pointer, he has very large pot belly, however his neck and shoulders do not melt together as one. There is a clear distinction between the two, this will change and develop as he matures. I believe he is three and half years old as well. These are both great bucks, I would be excited to have them on my property. 

Thanks for posting! 

Growing deer together,

-Matt

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Jason,

That is great, new bucks are always a gift! I believe this buck to be 3.5 years old. There are areas where he will still develop additional mass, like his front shoulders, neck and brisket. You can see there is a small break between his neck and brisket, this gap will diminish with age. These are key characteristics to identify when aging deer. 

Thanks for posting the question!

Growing deer together,

-Matt

2015-10-27 

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Bryan,

Thanks for sharing these images with us and having the desire to learn how to age deer on the hoof. This skill will serve you well in the deer woods. 

After looking through these pictures I feel confident in saying this buck is 3.5 years old. The characteristics that allow me to make this determination would be the front legs and shoulders on this deer. First the front legs appear to be shorter for the body. This buck does not have large developed shoulders yet in these pictures. He will however develop them as he continues to mature. His neck will also continue down his brisket as they will join at the bottom of the brisket when he reaches 4.5 years old. 

As you continue to learn more about aging deer on the hoof, please feel free use the Ask Grant tab. There are new photos and posts daily that you can learn from. 

Thanks again for sharing! 

Growing deer together,

Matt

2015-10-27

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Alan,

Great looking buck! Looking over his features and body characteristics, I feel confident that this buck is 3.5 years old. You can see in the picture that his neck does not extend all the way down to brisket, there is a defined difference between neck and chest. Also, this buck has a very tight belly line meaning not sagging yet.  This buck is a great representative of a true 3.5 year old. I would be very excited to have this buck on my hunting grounds! 

Thanks for sharing! 

Matt 

2015-10-27

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Josh,

Those are some nice bucks!  The buck on the right isn’t in a good position to accurately estimate his age.

The neck of buck on the left merges with his chest about the top of his brisket.  There’s no sag in his back or belly.  His antler bases appear smaller than or equal to the diameter of his eyes.  Based on these observations I estimate this buck is three years old.  

Enjoy creation,

October 20, 2015

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Connor,

That’s a nice buck!  

Antlers are very pliable when they are in velvet.  It’s possible this buck injured his antler while it was in velvet.  It’s also possible he injured his antler pedicle previously and it’s just now resulting a change in antler shape.

He’s a nice buck and I hope you have a great encounter with him!

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 20, 2015

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Bert,

Thanks for including the location of these bucks. This information helps understand the habitat conditions and allows for more accurate age estimate.

The buck on left doesn’t offer a good view to give an accurate age estimate.  

The buck on the right has very straight back and belly lines.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  When I cover this buck’s antlers he appears as a mature doe.  That’s usually a good indicator of a two year old buck due to lack of muscle development.  

Based on all these indicators I estimate this buck is two years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 20, 2015 

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Andy,

That’s a great looking buck for anywhere and especially for an area without many commercial soybean and corn crops!

His back and belly don’t appear to sag. In fact his waist is very tight just before his hips.  His ham doesn’t appear fully developed and his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulders mets his leg.  

His neck does appear to merge with his chest close to his brisket.  I believe there are more indicators pointing toward three years old compared to four years old and I estimate this buck is three years old. 

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 20, 2015

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Mark,

Thanks for including the location and description of local habitat!  Those details help increase the accuracy of age estimates.

It appears the buck’s antler bases are not larger than the diameter of his eyes.  His shoulder and ham don’t appear fully developed and his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  I estimate this buck is 2.5 years old.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 19, 2015

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Rob,

That’s a nice buck!  I don’t know where he is from and the quality of the local habitat.  Those are important factors in accurately estimating a buck’s age.

It appears his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and that his shoulders and hams aren’t fully developed.  His antler bases are much larger than the diameter of his eyes. These are all indicators of a three year old buck.  I not extremely confident that this buck is three, but that’s my best estimate based on the pictures.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 19, 2015

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Walker,

It’s always helpful to let me know where (what state) the buck is from and the quality of the local habitat.  Deer from areas with lower quality habitat (primarily timber and limited corn and soybeans crops) tend to age quicker than deer that have access to an abundance of quality forage.

Based on what I know this buck’s back and stomach don’t appear to sag.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and his shoulders and hams don’t appear fully developed.  I estimate this buck to be three years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 15, 2015

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Brandon,

That buck has super potential!!

One of the first tests I do is to cover up the antlers and see if the buck’s body reminds me of a doe.  This buck’s body certainly looks like a doe in two of the three pictures   The diameter of his antler bases are much smaller than his eyes.  His shoulders and hams are not fully developed and his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  I confidently estimate this buck is two years old. 

If the Spring Creek Hunting Club’s deer management objective include allowing bucks to express most of their antler growth potential than don’t harvest this buck for another year or preferable two!  He has the potential to be a whopper!

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 14, 2015

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Matthew,

That is a good looking buck!  His back and belly appear swayed but I believe that is somewhat due to his posture.  His chest and shoulders are fairly well developed.  His neck and chest merge well above his brisket.  Based on these indicators I estimate this buck to be three years old.

Deer have an amazing ability to store a huge amount of fat and survive for long periods of time without access to quality forage.  Deer thrive throughout the Midwest in areas where crops are harvested and no cover crops are planted. (By the way – late season food plots are often great deer attractants in area dominated by production crops.) Fortunately, more and more farmers are using less tillage and more cover crops.  These techniques are better for the soil and wildlife!  

In areas where corn and soybeans are the primary land use the doe harvest quota is often set based on the tolerance of crops being damage and not a limited amount of quality forage. Therefore the needs of society often determine deer harvest goals in ag areas more than balancing the deer population with the amount of quality forage.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 13, 2015 

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Dusty,

Thanks for sharing these images with us and taking the time to share the outdoors with your daughter.  It is very important to continue to introduce children into the outdoors! 

After looking at photos of this buck, it appears he is 4.5 years old.  This buck’s neck appear to be thin, however it does connect to the bottom of his brisket, a sure sign of a mature buck. He also has a sweeping low belly line and a noticeable hump over the top of his front shoulders. 

I hope you and your daughter have a successful season! Be sure to share you successes with us! 

-Matt

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Benjamin,

Adam and I saw the buck we called Two Face during October 2012.  There was a bad outbreak of H.D. here that year and found Two Face’s skull that spring. He was limping the last time we saw him so I suspect the cause of death was H.D.

The buck in the image you submitted is strongly angled away from the camera.  That’s a tough angle to use to accurately estimate a buck’s age.  When I cover his antlers his body appears like a mature doe.  His back and belly appear straight.  These are both indicators of a two year old buck.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 12, 2015

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Walker,

That’s a neat buck!  The first and third pictures are the best for estimating this buck’s age.

It appears this buck’s shoulder and ham are well developed.  His neck appears to merge with his chest at his brisket and his chest sags below where his shoulder meets his leg.  I estimate this buck to be four years old or older.  He’d be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 9, 2015

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Grant,

I tend to like prefer soft mass (fruits and berries).  There are usually plenty of acorns but fruits and berries are limited.  I like a variety of species so something will be ripe at different times throughout the season.  The more limited the preferred resource the easier it is pattern deer. I have some different fruit and acorn trees in my tree plot.  I got them from http://www.FlatwoodNatives.com.  

That’s a neat looking buck!  He’s neck merges with his chest at his brisket.  His chest sags below where his leg meets his shoulder and his shoulder and ham is well developed.  I estimate this buck is four years old and likely older.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 9, 2015 

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Braxton,

That’s a neat buck!  One of the first things I commonly do is to cover the buck’s antlers and see if his body resembles a mature doe. If it appears like a doe, the buck is likely a two year old.  I did that test on this buck and his body does appear like a mature doe.  His shoulders and hams aren’t fully developed.  His back and belly don’t sag.  I estimate this buck is two years old. Deer are typically born during the spring and therefore bucks during the fall are typically X and 1/2 years old. I often simple say they are X years old and know that during hunting season they will be X and 1/2 years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 8, 2015  

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Kristian,

That buck has an odd body shape.  In addition its very difficult to accurately estimate a buck’s age when he’s facing the camera. 

I hope you see him in person soon!

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 8, 2015

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Tim,

That is a nice buck!  It appears this buck’s shoulders and hams are well developed.  His back and belly seem to sag.  His neck merges with his chest at his brisket and his chest sags below where his leg meets his shoulder.  These are all signs of a buck that’s four years old or older.  This buck would be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

October 8, 2015

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Alex,

That is a good looking buck!  You didn’t mention the area or quality of the local habitat.  Nutrition quality is a factor in how fast deer (or humans) age.

It appears his neck merges with his chest near his brisket.  However, neither his back or belly appear to sag.  His antler bases don’t appear much larger than the diameter of his eyes.  It’s tough to accurately estimate the age of bucks when they are not broadside to the camera.  Based on what I see I estimate this buck to be 3 or 4 but am not very confident in this estimate.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Mr. Wilson,

Thanks for sending these pictures and watching the show! We certainly appreciate your viewership! 

The buck in the first picture appears to be a yearling buck or 1.5 years of age.  This is his first set of visible antlers.  A few keynote characteristics would be skinny frame and neck.  His hinder quarters are also much larger than his front shoulders but this will change to the opposite as he ages. 

The does in second picture look to be 1.5 as well. They have similar characteristics as the buck does. Skinny shoulders, tight belly, and small frames. 

Thanks for posting! 

-Matt

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Joe,

I was raised just west of Republic!  There were VERY few deer there when I was a child.  

There doesn’t appear to be much sag in the buck’s back or belly.  His shoulders and hams don’t appear fully developed.  His neck merges with his chest above his brisket.  I estimate this buck to be three years old.  He’s a dandy!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Marcey,

The buck appears to have good body weight!  That’s a good indicator he’s doing fine.  

Any buck that’s one of the oldest in the neighborhood sounds like a good candidate for your wish list!  

Keep me posted and enjoy creation,

grant 

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Luke,

That’s a good buck!  It appears his neck merges with his chest above his brisket and his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his leg.  I estimate this buck is three years old.  If your goals include three year old bucks (nothing wrong with that!) and he’s showing a predictable pattern I’d be hunting that deer!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Stephen,

Thank you for sharing the kind words and asking God to bless my family!  I sincerely appreciate your prayers!

The buck’s back and belly appear to be straight.  There’s no sag in either.  The buck’s chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his leg.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  I estimate this buck is two or three years old – depending on the quality of habitat within his home range.  

I suggest folks establish their buck harvest criteria based primarily on the landowner’s goals and secondarily on what makes them happy.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Austen,

You are wise to realize different neighborhoods have different deer management potential and therefore hunters should adjust their buck harvest criteria to fit where they are hunting.  In general, I suggest hunters set their buck harvest goals to met the realistic potential of the area. A good rule of thumb is to attempt to harvest a buck that’s in the top 25% of the age class of bucks harvested in the area.  For example if most bucks harvested where you hunt are one and two years old, and 25% or so are three years old or older, than set your goal to tag a three year old or older buck.  I strongly believe hunting should be fun while hunters work to improve the local herd and habitat conditions.  

The chest of the buck in your pictures sags below where his legs meets his shoulders.  His neck merges with his chest at his brisket and his back and belly seem to sag.  These are all signs of a mature buck. I estimate this buck is three or four and I’m leaning more toward four!  Based on the description of the area you hunt, this buck would be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Zakary,

That’s a good looking buck!  I believe that any buck that’s older than most bucks tagged in an area is a trophy and would qualify for my wish list! 

This buck’s back and belly appear fairly straight. His chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his leg.  His shoulder and ham appear fairly, but not fully developed.

I estimate this buck to be two or three years old and based on what you shared he’d be on my wish list in your neighborhood!  I’m proud of you for leading by example!

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Wade,

That buck does appear to have a large body!  It’s odd that his antler bases are much smaller than his eyes (a buck’s eyes are usually about 4″ in diameter).  His body has such an odd shape that I’m hesitant to estimate his age.  Just as in humans, some deer don’t have normal shaped bodies or “fit the mold.”  I think it would be easier to estimate the age of this buck if he was standing by another buck for scale.  

I hope you have some good encounters with this buck!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Dustin,

That’s a very nice buck!  His shoulder and ham appear well developed. His neck merges with his chest at his brisket.  His chest sags below where his shoulders meets his legs.  His back and belly both appear to sag and there’s a hump over his shoulder.  This buck shows many signs of being four years old or older. He’d be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Don,

Thank you for sending four pictures of the buck when he’s broadside to the camera.  The fourth picture, where his head is looking straight forward, is the best for showing his actual posture/body shape.  The buck’s back and belly lines are straight.  That’s to say neither his back or belly seem to be sagging.  His chest doesn’t sag below where his leg meets his shoulder. His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  

I estimate this buck to be three years old.  Do either of you agree with me?

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Mr. Gatton,

Thanks for posting these pictures!  The buck in the first picture is 3.5 years old, he has well developed shoulders, but you can see a clearly defined difference between his chest and neck, this will merge into one as he ages and continues to develop.

The buck in the second photo looks like his in the process of moving which makes it a slightly difficult to estimate. However, I do believe that buck is 3.5 years old as well.  His brisket looks well developed but again his neck is not as well developed. 

These bucks have great potential. Thanks for sharing! 

-Matt

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Jeremy,

The technique for estimating the age of does based on body shape often isn’t as accurate as it is with bucks.  The doe in your pictures appears to have very developed shoulders and some loose skin by her brisket.  She appears middle aged to mature to me.

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Mr. Howell,

I believe this buck is 1.5 years old.  The buck looks to be filled out, but this is within his young compact frame still.  This deer will grow and expand his frame over the next couple of years. He will be a neat deer to see fully develop! Thanks for sharing!

Growing deer together,

-Matt

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Connor,

Thanks for posting!  The angle of the picture is a little difficult to see the entire profile view, however, I believe an accurate estimate of this buck would be 2.5 years old. It appears that the ground slopes from back to front on this buck.  With this angle and lay of the land the deer looks older than what I truly think he is. The bucks neck looks large but this is due to his head being lowered in the photo. This buck will soon develop larger shoulders and look very front heavy. 

Growing deer together, 

-Matt

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Mr. Wick,

I believe this buck to be 3.5 years old.  He has some great characteristics to his body, however their is still room for him to grow into it.  His shoulders are still developing and but you can tell they are beginning to appear larger than his rear hams.  This will continue to happen with more time. His neck will merge directly into his shoulders making the bulk of his mass originate from his chest, legs, and shoulder region.   

Best wishes this season! 

Growing deer together,

-Matt

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Cooper,

It’s always exciting to check cameras and discover a nice buck where we hunt!  

This buck appears to have a very straight back and tight belly.  There’s no sign of this deer having a pot belly.  His legs appear long for his body. This is a sign that his chest or belly isn’t sagging – which makes a deer’s legs appear short. This buck’s neck merges with his chest well above his brisket. 

These are all indicators this buck is two or three years old.  He’s a dandy for the north Georgia Mountains!  (I used to live and hunt in the South Carolina Mountains.)

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Josh,

I estimate that buck’s age to be four or older!  His chest clearly sags below where his leg meets his shoulder.  There’s lots of loose skin by his brisket.  His shoulders and hams are both very developed.  This buck would be on my wish list!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Mr. Daniel,

I believe you are correct in saying this buck is younger than he is old. His stance makes him appear to be older than what he actually is.  He has a small neck and a small base of circumference around his antler bases. His rear hams are much larger in comparison to his front shoulders.  These signs are typically of a 2.5 year old deer.  

Thanks for sharing,

-Matt

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Kevin,

I agree that the buck that’s broadside to the camera appears three years old. His back and belly lines are very straight.  His ham and shoulder are developed, but don’t appear fully developed (like a mature buffalo).  His legs appear a bit long for his body and his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  

These are all indicators of a three year old buck.

The other buck has a neat droptine!  I hope you have encounters with both of them!

grant

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Frank,

In the second and third picture it appears the buck has a swayed back and potbelly.  His neck clearly merges with his chest at his brisket and his shoulder and ham are well developed.  These are all indicators of a mature deer. I estimate this buck is four years old or older. He’d be on my wishlist! 

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Jared,

I agree with you. That buck is more mature than the previous one.  His shoulders and hams are much more developed.  His neck merges with his chest much closer to his brisket.  

There’s more loose skin by his brisket.  I estimate this buck is three or four.  I hope you have a great encounter with him!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Jason,

I agree!  The droptine buck’s chest doesn’t show any sign of sagging.  His shoulders and hams aren’t developed.  If his antlers are covered he appears as a young doe.  This buck has all the characteristics of being 1.5 years old.  He’s showing much antler growth potential!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Carson,

I enjoy getting pictures of bucks I wasn’t expecting.  Based on the pictures of this buck when he is broadside it appears his ham and shoulder aren’t fully developed.  His neck merges with his chest above his brisket and his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his leg.  These are all indicators of a three year old buck.  I agree with your estimate.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Jared,

That’s a neat buck!  Sounds like you have figured out this buck’s pattern!  

It appears his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  His back and belly show no signs of sagging.  His hams and shoulders don’t appear to be fully developed.  When I cover his antlers it appears like a very mature doe.  These are good indicators of a good two year old or maybe a three year old. I’m leaning toward estimating this buck to be two years old.

I hope you and our friend are blessed with and enjoyable season!

grant

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Douglas,

That’s a nice buck!  The last picture is the most useful for estimating the buck’s age. In this picture the buck is broadside to the camera and has his head up, but his neck is not extended.

In this picture it appears is his back and belly are fairly straight.  His chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulder meets his leg. His neck merges with his chest above his brisket and his ham and shoulder don’t appear fully developed.

I estimate this buck is three or four, and I’m leaning toward three. 

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Mason,

Thank you for watching GrowingDeer and for sharing the kind words!  I believe the most important factor step of making a career choice is intentionally seeking what God has planned for your life!

Wayne is a nice buck!  There appears to be an obvious hump over his shoulder and his chest clearly sags below where his leg meets his shoulder.  His shoulder is very developed and his antler bases are much larger than the diameter of his eyes.

Based on these observations I estimate Wayne is four years old or older.  He’s be on my wishlist.

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Colton,

That’s a very nice buck!  I noticed that the younger buck to the left appears to have already shed and the more mature buck to the right is still in full velvet.  When bucks shed velvet or antlers is more of an individual trait than related to maturity.

The buck on the right appears to have a swayed back and pot belly. However, I believe that’s due to his posture. His neck merges with his chest above his brisket and his shoulder and ham don’t appear fully developed.  

This buck is sending mixed signals and I could go with an estimate of three or four.  When I’m in doubt I give the benefit to the buck and accept the younger estimate.  He may appear to be four in another picture.

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Johnny,

Wow – that’s a great buck! Thank you for sending pictures of the buck broadside to the camera and from both 2014 and 2015!  

In the pictures from 2015 the buck appears to have a swayed back and pot belly.  His shoulder and ham are well developed.  His neck merges with his chest very close to his brisket and his chest sags below where his leg meets his shoulder. His antler bases are larger than the diameter of his eyes.  This buck has all the indicators of a four year old or older buck.  He’d certainly be on my wish list!  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Chad,

That is a nice buck. However, I think his shoulder and ham would be even more developed if he was four.  I suspect his posture makes his back look more swayed than it is.  

This buck’s neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and his chest doesn’t sag below where his leg meets his shoulder.  I believe there are more indicators this buck is three than four. 

Either way he’s a fine deer!  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Hank,

That’s a nice buck.  Pictures of bucks facing the camera rarely provide much information to estimating a deer’s age.  In the second picture the buck appears to have a swayed back and pot belly.  His hams and shoulders appear well developed. These are all indicators of a four year old or older buck. However, his neck merges with his chest very high above his brisket.  This is an indicator of a three year old buck.  A buck posture can influence features such as a pot belly and swayed back.  I estimate this buck is either three or four years old.  I hope you get a better look during season!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Hank,

It appears that buck has a swayed back and pot belly.  This may be due to his posture in this picture.  His chest doesn’t sag much below where his shoulder meets his leg and his neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  The buck appears very fit – no sagging anywhere It seems there are more indicators that this buck is three than four. Based on the quality of the habitat where this buck lives I estimate he’s three or four and I’m leaning toward three.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Caleb,

That buck appears to have a huge body!  It’s difficult to accurately estimate the age of a buck that’s facing the camera.  It appears his chest sags well below where his legs meets his shoulders.  His antler bases are have a much larger diameter than his eyes.  These are good both indicators of a mature buck.  I loosely estimate the buck is four years old or older.

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Dustin,

That’s a great looking buck!  The picture is dated November 16th and there’s snow on the ground so I assume the buck is in rut.  

This buck has:

1. A very straight back and tight belly.

2. His chest doesn’t sag below where his chest meets his shoulder.

3  His shoulder and ham don’t appear fully developed.  

Based on these observations I estimate this buck to be three years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Clay,

The buck in the picture from January 2015 has a very straight back and belly.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket and his shoulders aren’t totally developed.  I estimate this buck to be two or three depending on the quality of habitat where he lives.

The buck in the picture dated June 26, 2015 appears to have a very straight back, tight belly, and his shoulder and ham are not developed. When I cover his antlers he appears similar to a large doe. I estimate this buck to be two years old.

The buck in picture with no date appears to have a swayed back and pot belly.  His neck merges with his chest very close to his brisket.  It’s difficult to accurately estimate the age of bucks when they are facing a camera.  Based on this picture I estimate this buck to be four years old or older.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Ryan,

Wow – that’s a great buck!!  Its very tough to accurately estimate the age of bucks that are facing the camera.  The only picture that shows the buck broadside is from May.  At that time the buck’s back and belly lines were very straight.  His chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulders meets his legs.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  

These are all very good indicators of a three year old buck.  Wow – that buck has produced huge antlers for his age!  

Thanks for sharing and enjoy creation!

grant

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Eric,

The legs of the buck in all three pictures appear long for his body in all .  His back and belly lines are straight.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  If you cover his antlers he appears like a large bodied doe.  These are all signs of a two year old buck.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Colton,

That’s a very nice buck!  Adam and I both looked at the pictures you sent. We estimate this buck is three years old because:

1.  It’s back and belly lines are very flat.

2.  The buck’s chest merges with his neck well above his brisket.

3.  His chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulders merge with his legs.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Dustin,

I’m not aware of any shortcuts to learning how to accurately estimate the age of bucks on the hoof.  It can be difficult especially in a moment of excitement!  I strongly prefer my clients do a camera survey and use those pictures to identify and learn which bucks they wish to tag and more importantly which bucks they wish to pass!  We often make booklets so clients can study which bucks to pass.  This system has worked very well for me and my clients!

There’s no doubt that a well ran supplemental feeding program can help. Most folks focus on protein.  However, usually quality sources of energy are in much shorter supply than protein.  Good feeding programs require substantial resources (dollars and labor).  Feeders need to be moved and cleaned frequently.  Non target critters such as squirrels, raccoons, bears, etc., can literally remove 50% or more of the feed.

However, if implemented correctly a feeding program can increase the health of a deer herd!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Jeff,

I agree with all your observations.  I estimate this buck to be three, possibly four.  However, I’m leaning more toward 3 1/2 years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Jason,

I typically place does in one of two age categories. These include 1.5 years old and 2 years old or older.

The larger doe in your pics appears to have well developed shoulders and hams and a pot belly. She’s certainly mature.  

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Chad,

Thank you for sharing the kind words and for watching GrowingDeer!

Those are both great bucks!  The mainframe 12 appears to have a straight back (at least in the 2nd picture) and his chest doesn’t sag below where his legs meets his shoulders.  His shoulders are not more developed than his hams.  His neck merges with his chest well above his brisket.  I estimate this buck is three or four and I’m leaning toward estimating he’s three.  You may be able to refine this more when he’s closer to shedding his velvet.  

The buck with the droptine certainly appears a year younger than the mainframe 12.  HIs back is very straight and his hams and shoulders are much less developed compared to the mainframe 12.  I estimate he’s two or three and I’m leaning toward two years old.  If you cover his (impressive) antlers his body appears like a very large doe. That’s typically a good indicator of a two year old buck.

Both are great bucks!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Evan,

The neck of the buck in the back of the 2015 picture merges with his chest above his brisket. His shoulders and hams appear developed, but not well developed.  His shoulders appear much smaller than his hams. These observations may due to his posture and because his angling away from the camera.  Based on this picture I estimate the buck is 3, maybe 4 years old. I’m leaning toward calling him 3 years old.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Frank,

The buck’s legs appear too long for his body.  His neck merges with is chest well above his brisket.  If you cover his antlers he appears like a large-bodied doe.  These are all signs of a 2 year old buck.

There are very rarely genetic “problems” with deer.  I believe this deer is healthy and has great potential!

Enjoy creation,

grant 

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Colby,

I assume these pics were taken during the late fall/winter based on the hard antlers and long hair (full winter coat).

This buck’s antler bases aren’t much larger than the diameter of his eyes.  His neck, even though swollen, merges with his chest well above his brisket.  Even though the buck is in a different posture in each picture his chest doesn’t sag below where his shoulders meets his legs.  These are all signs of a two or three year old buck.

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Manny,

That’s a great buck! It’s tough to accurately estimate the age of a buck from a head-on view. It appears the buck’s shoulders and hams are developed and that there’s a lot of loose skin around his brisket.  There may be a hump over his shoulder – indicating his back is swayed.  These are all signs the buck is 4 years old or older.  

Bucks rarely travel outside their home range this time of year. Based on that there’s a good chance this is a resident buck!  I hope you get him patterned!

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Will,

That’s a good looking buck!  It’s tough to accurately estimate the age of deer when part of their body is blocked by plants.  From what I can see it appears his neck merges well above where his chest meets his brisket.  HIs shoulders and hams don’t appear to be fully developed and his facial features are very fine (unscarred).  

These are all indicators the buck is likely 2 or 3 years old.  If he’s a 2 year old the buck has tremendous potential!  Even if he’s 3 years old he’s a great looking buck!  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Ben,

Recently we’ve shared footage of a buck we call Chainsaw!  He has very large antlers several kickers.  I confident almost every deer hunter would gladly tag Chainsaw.  I estimate this buck to be 4 years old. We don’t recognize Chainsaw as any of the bucks from our farm last year.  Chainsaw’s range also includes a member of our local deer coop and that landowner doesn’t recognize him either.  I suspect Chainsaw’s antlers are much larger this year than during any previous year.  Had we (or our neighbor) been tagging 3 year old or younger deer Chainsaw may not have survived to express his genetic potential.

I’ve seen this same pattern many times!  Bucks often don’t show their genetic potential until they reach 4 years old or older.  Several spikes that have been tagged or fitted with a radio collar have produced Boone and Crockett level antlers when they matured to 4 years old or older.  

Based on this and several research projects I do recommend passing bucks until the age criteria used where you hunt. It’s almost impossible to determine a buck’s antler production potential at younger ages.  

Remember that does make a huge contribution to antler shape.  The bottom line is that culling bucks without a known pedigree for several generations on both the doe and buck side is useless.  

Enjoy creation,

grant

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Lee,

The buck in your picture appears to have a swayed back, pot-belly, and his chest sags below where his shoulders meets his legs.  In addition, his shoulders and hams are very well developed.  These are all indicators that the buck is four years old or older. He’d certainly be on my hit list!  

I hope you have a great encounter with him!  

Enjoy creation!

grant

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Thank you for watching GrowingDeer and for asking God to bless our Team!

Tracy, the kids, and I all enjoy venison! Tracy’s a great cook and we consume 10+ does each year! So you and I have the same goals.

Just like with humans, does tend to show their age by changing body shape as they mature in patterns similar to bucks. As does mature their posture goes from very straight to having a swayed back and sags in the belly region. Does don’t have plastic surgery so changes due to age are probably more pronounced and constant than female humans express. In addition most does will produce fawns each year so they show similar signs of aging compared to humans as some ladies bare a lot of children while others very few or none. In addition most does give birth as yearlings or as two year old does. The age humans produce the first child is highly variable.

I tend to age does on the hoof as immature, prime, and elderly based on the shape of their body.

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