Age this buck Part 1

[Justin]

Here are three trailcam photos I got of this nine pointer back in September. Judging from these photos here, what do you think this buck's age is? Photos taken in Northern Illinois.

2nd set of photos of same buck taken yesterday to follow later.

[dukemichaels]

Looks like a 2 year old Justin... that's not the same one you took pictures of in stand yesterday morning is it?

[Matt/TN]

Going by where you are located.


I would say he is a SOLID 2.5yr/old


But he could also be a 3.5.


Hard to tell.

[Justin]

ORIGINAL: dukemichaels

Looks like a 2 year old Justin... that's not the same one you took in stand yesterday morning is it?

I really think it is actually. I compared them side by side for an hour last night from every possible angle, length of tines, little curves on hisbrow tines, etc and all signs indicate it's the same buck. Now get out of my thread before you spoil it!

[HNI_Christine]

1.5 year old.

I have one from N. IL on my wall that looks almost exactly the same. It was 1.5.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted by Admins]

[Matt in IL]

I agree with 1.5 year old. I took a similar buck about 10 years ago from McHenry Co.

[GMMAT]

I think 2.5, too. His head just doesn't have the 1.5 yr old look to it.

[Justin]

Okay, NOW tell me how old you think he is. These were taken yesterday morning at about 80 yards. They're 100% crops from my Nikon D40 @ 200mm. I tried grunting him in, but he wasn't interested so I snapped some photos instead.

It's definitely the same buck - small crooks in his G1's, longer G3's than G2's, 5 on his left, 4 on his right, weak spread (outside just barely to his ears)....

Personally I think he's a really good 2 1/2. He's packed on some pounds in the last 3 months and done some "growing up" but I just don't see him being a 3 1/2, although from these photos it would be easy to see why someone might think he is. Definitely not a 1 1/2 though.

[Justin]

Hmmm...photos didn't upload first time. Let's try it again.