Opinion on deer age based on horns?
12-09-2008, 07:10 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: North Florida
Posts: 49
Opinion on deer age based on horns?
Killed this buck in VA. Aged at 2.5 years old. Hard to belive this buck could have grown these antlers in only his second year. Had an outside spread of 22 inches and close to 10 inch G2's. There are some great genetics on the land I hunt but 2.5 years old. What do ya'll think? By the way he dressed out at about 92 lbs.
12-09-2008, 07:37 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The forests and farmland of Ohio
Posts: 625
RE: Opinion on deer age based on horns?
I have pictures from my trail camera of bucks in my area of 2 1/2 year old buck that are just as big or bigger. Although I am from Ohio and not sure about difference in growth rates in antler size between different geographic regions. Also in the face he appears to be a 2 1/2 year old. just my 2 cents
12-09-2008, 07:47 AM
#3
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NOVA
Posts: 780
RE: Opinion on deer age based on horns?
I hunt VA, and thats not that uncommon. i have shot a couple deer that were only 2.5. and carried some impressive head gear. Alot of people think just because he is bigger he has to be 3.5 or 4.5. But VA has great genetics if there allowed to grow.
12-09-2008, 08:15 AM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 564
RE: Opinion on deer age based on horns?
While I agree that gentics is important, age and availablity to quality food are more important to good antler growth. In their early years, most of the nutrition a deer takes in goes towards development of their body before their antlers. What confuses me is that the deer in the pic obviously had quality food to grow that rack, but why only 92 lbs. I don't think that you would even be able to find a deer in Indiana that had the smallest of racks that would not go 110 to 120. Most of our button bucks go 100+.
Genes alone don't grow quality antlers. Those genes need fed. I'd be concerned about the fact that that deer did not weigh anymore then he did.
Genes alone don't grow quality antlers. Those genes need fed. I'd be concerned about the fact that that deer did not weigh anymore then he did.
12-09-2008, 10:27 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 3,406
RE: Opinion on deer age based on horns?
A few years back, I shot a nice 8 pointer that dressed at 178 pounds. When I registered him, there was a biologist from UNH that was working with the NH F&G. He asked if I was going to have it mounted and when I said no, he asked to check the age by extracting a tooth. I said OK and he told me that buck was only 1 1/2 yrs. old. I questioned his age but the biologist told me it was absolutely true and this 8 pointer was 1 1/2. I was still very suprised but was convinced he knew what he was talking about and he even showed me the extracted tooth and why he could age it so accurately.
He finally told me I made one mistake. He said I should have shot him next year.
He finally told me I made one mistake. He said I should have shot him next year.
12-09-2008, 10:37 AM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Howell, Michigan
Posts: 245
RE: Opinion on deer age based on horns?
horns huh? all I see are antlers.
Cervidae: Most deer have antlers, which are not true horns. When fully developed antlers are dead bone without a horn or skin covering; they are borne only by adults (usually males) and are shed and regrown each year.
anyways...horns are completely different than antlers...just FYI
I say the deer is 2.5 years old.
Cervidae: Most deer have antlers, which are not true horns. When fully developed antlers are dead bone without a horn or skin covering; they are borne only by adults (usually males) and are shed and regrown each year.
anyways...horns are completely different than antlers...just FYI
I say the deer is 2.5 years old.