Like you said, the deer is not very old. I would say from the pics 5 1/2 tops. If it was me I would probably rule out natural causes. This deer didn't freeze to death. That's a ridiculous statement by someone. It hasn't been no where near that cold yet this year. By the looks of it he hasn't been dead that long either. I would say some where around the weeks or less. Very sad indeed, but at least he was found and you guys won't be wracking your brains this coming fall wondering why you aren't seeing him.

Can you shed some light on what happened to this deer. Was he taken by the DNR?