Originally Posted by
Topgun 3006
It's just an educated guess looking at body size, big belly and sagging back, along with size of the rack that can be expected in the age class for whatever area you're hunting and that obviously will vary due to climate, nutrition, genetics, etc. Generally, if he's big then shoot him, LOL!
x2
I am howerver very fortunate to hunt very private land in Iowa, I see the same deer year after year and am able to make a decision based on how long he's been on camera.
However, when I am hunting other land that I am not the least bit familiar, I look to see if he's taller than his ears and outside his ears first, then look to the sagging belly and back, body size here in Iowa is a bit tricky though, I've seen a few 3.5 year olds just as big as a 5.5 year olds....