whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
11-15-2006, 10:08 AM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: YewNork
Posts: 1,794
whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
how can you age a deer by looking at it, the area i live young deer have very big bodies and its hard to tell how old they are, whats the best way to tell?
11-15-2006, 10:18 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern Idaho's Panhandle
Posts: 4,436
RE: whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
bodycompositionfirst...thenantlers.... works for me
The more deer you look at over years of hunting, scouting, filming..studying in general in your home area...gives you afirm grip on what is normal in your area for age class..After 4.5 years old here..they usually look good!
I was talking to a good friend from HNI last night on the phone..Hes from NY and is out here in Idaho hunting..anyway like he and I discussed..there is no guessing when a true big boy walks out...You just know it!
The more deer you look at over years of hunting, scouting, filming..studying in general in your home area...gives you afirm grip on what is normal in your area for age class..After 4.5 years old here..they usually look good!
I was talking to a good friend from HNI last night on the phone..Hes from NY and is out here in Idaho hunting..anyway like he and I discussed..there is no guessing when a true big boy walks out...You just know it!
11-15-2006, 10:25 AM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 26,274
RE: whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
I look at sway of back, drupe of belly, color of coat (especially around the muzzle, the muzzle will get grayer as the deer ages), and thickness of body.
11-15-2006, 10:26 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: YewNork
Posts: 1,794
RE: whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
thats true but im not just talking about bucks, i want to shoot old does to, is it true on younger deer that thereback and rump are equall, and when they become mature there back curves in and there rumpsare up higher?
11-15-2006, 11:19 AM
#10
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: whats the best way to age a deer by looking at it?
It's funny.....THE way I know we don't have too many elder bucks around (at least that show themslelves) is by comparing the bucks to the mature does in the area. When you see a mature doe around here....YOU KNOW IT. She looks as long as a Cadillac.....and she dwarfs the others. I've seen 2 deer, this year (bucks) that were older than 1-1/2.
Jeff
Jeff