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?

This is from short experience so take it or leave it.....
Flat back and a dropped belly.

-DD

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!

You also can look at how long the snout is. Younger deer have shorter noses.

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.

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?

yup gravity takes over in time......just like with humans..

Roman nose, sway back and belly, color of the coat. Some times they will get darker or more gray as they get older. Antler size is a indicator, but not a good rule to follow.

does any one have pics of like a 2 1/2 year old and 3 1/2 year old real deer or older to compare them to each other?

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