What are some physical characteristics you use to estimate a buck’s age?
Filed under: How Old Is This Buck?
Question
Hi Dr. Woods, im a 17 year old from Southeast Arkansas who deer hunts in the Mississippi River delta. My dad and uncle are farmers, so our deer consequently have a guarenteed soybean food plot from may-october. I have cameras set up all around my farm, and I recently harvested a mature 10 point that i have had on camera since late July. However, I’m starting to second guess myself. Though he was 230+ pounds when I harvested him, I have been looking at the pictures of him from July, and I’m thinking I probably shouldve let him walk. In July, he had a thin neck, and overall he just didn’t look as solid as when I harvested him this November. What are some good visual clues that I can use to determine a buck’s maturity other than weight alone?
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
