You're never gonna know for SURE, Cap'n. You can make an educated guess.....but that's what you're doing.

I try not to look at the rack too much.....but it makes it easier on most. There's an article on this in the lastest D&DH issue (by Alsheimer) and I was surprised that he noted the rack size a LOT in determining age. I try not to do that.....but again..you need to know what's "typical" for your area.

There's a lot that goes into it.....but most of the timeI look at their hips and body. A 1.5 yr old looks like a doe with antlers (whayever those antlers may make up). A 2.5 is a different looking deer. He's really looking like a BUCK, then. Around here....it's typically not all that hard to tell the 1,5's from the 2.5's.