i have scored many bucks and have come to realize that in South Central Illinois about 90% of 2.5 yr old bucks main beams are less than 20 inches in length, and nearly 90% of 3.5 yr old bucks are 20 in or more in length.

Also body weights of field dressed 2.5 yr olds are generally 160 and under, where 3.5 yr olds and older are 160 and above.

I know its not anaccurate way to age a deer but has anybody else noticed anything similar.

(oh by the way most of the time i can easily tell by looking at a deer to tell if they are 2.5 or 3.5......but the 2.5 yr olds with good genetics are pretty close to 3.5 yr olds with bad genetics and sometimes it is hard to tell them apart)

Since I don't hunt where you do.....there's no way I could say. In saying that.....wouldn't it make sense that it all depends on your location, herd (pop. v. carrying capaciy), herd dynamics, etc...?

The only way I use rack size is as AN (not THE) indicator of age between 1.5 and 2.5 yr olds.

I do most of my hunting in northern WI, and there is huge variability up there, starting with fawns, and up through 2.5. Buck fawns can be anywhere from 50 lb puppies to large deer that are mistaken for adult does. 1.5's can be anywhere from 80 lb just barely legal to rank rutting six pointers with sturdy racks, field dressing 120+. 2.5's can be anywhere from 120 lb rank rutting six pointers with sturdy racks to 140 lb bruisers in the 130" class. Beyond 2.5 it starts to even out and they're all big bucks, but you get the idea.

On a typical 8 framed buck take your hand and put it behind the last point going off the main beam on the end fork and wrap your hand around the beam. In most cases if you can get 3 hand grips in between the end fork and the end of the main beam you have at least a 4.5 year old buck. This doesn't work on all 8 point frames (It didn't on mine) but on most of them it holds pretty true. I learned this a few years back from a P@Y measurer.

yes, it would depend on that....i was asking about YOUR hunting grounds to see if you had any type of pattern like this for the deer you hunt.

My 4.5 yr old 9 pt only had 20.5" main beams, and my 2.5 yr old 9 pt had 20" main beams, sorta funny. I'll agree, it can vary quite a biteven within the same herd I think.

125....

My experiences with 2.5 yr olds (only taken 1.....and seen several others....not counting my friends kills) is that they are probably in the 140-170# range LIVE (on the hoof) weight (I'm no good at their field dressed weights....as I weigh them whole). I'm basing the "average" on the one I did weigh and comparing to the ones I've seen. Only one 3.5 yr old taken by me....but it was a 170# LIVE weight, deer (OK...he was dead....but you get the picture). My buddies have taken some 3.5 yr olds from my area....and I think this is the norm. Time of year (pre-rut v. post rut) also has a lot to do with their weight.....at least it does, here. The fat 2.5 yr old I took was shot in Septemeber. he'd likely have lost considerable weight if I'd taken him in Dec.

To be honest......rack sizes here are hit and miss.....but definitely on the smallish size (In the woods "I" hunt). For example.....The 2.5 yr old I shot in '06 only measured just under 70". The 3.5 yr old I took in '06 measured just over 106". The 4.5 yr old I shot in '07 was just over a 103" deer....but weighed 200#'s on the hoof.

On average (here)....I'd say the 3.5 yr old was an "average" racked deer for these parts. The 4.5 yr old had good mass....but he didn't score anywhere near what a 4.5 yr old would score in some states or even in other loations in this state.

Too many deer, here. Too little habitat.

But for an example.....the 4.5 yr old I took this past season had main beams of 17" and 17-1/4".

If there is one thing I like about the genetics here... Its our main beam length..over all. We dont have the mass of the mid west or Canada.. but length in mains can be pretty strong.. 22-25 is not uncommon.. in a 4.5 year oldand older.. tine length isnt to bad in these mountain bucks either..

actually in my woods the herd is really consistent when talking age/score relationships up to 3.5yrs old. I have taken 14 3.5 yr olds and older and 2 2.5 yr olds......both of the 2.5 yr olds have main beam length of 17 to 19 inches and main beams on the 3.5 yr olds and older that i have taken have all been from 21 inches to 24 inches.

As for body weights the 2.5 yr olds weighed field dresses 155 and 160.....the 3.5 yrs olds weighed in from 165 to 200 lbs

same here