Help me age this guy please...
 

Looks kind of old though the boneage isn't necessarily showing it...3 1/2...4 1/2???

Located in South Central Wisconsin....

looks to be about 6 or 7 years old maybe even older

Looks fairly young to me. No sag in the back or belly. Doesn't looked clompletely filled out in the shoulders yet. I'd say 3.5

im gonna say 3.5 to 4, def more room to grow in the neck and chest areas

You know the deer better in your area than anyone else could. The buck you want to know the age of is one year older than the buck he's traveling with....which to me looks like a 1 1/2 years old. They're both extremly healthy, but not old, I'm betting you hunt farm lands..

who cares how old he is,if the rack is big enough then kill him. sometimes ageing a deer is a joke anyway. you've been watching to much tv.

Yeah i'd say around 4yrs. But hes gone some nice bones on his head. I'd shoot him

older deer revert back to younger ( 3 1/2) looking deer.
Look at the deer next to him hes about 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 notice the face on him knda of short look at the other his face has thinned back out like an old man, look at the brisket, look at the hinds, not as rounded or plump any more, the color , hes lighter than the younger healthier buck, look at the wrinkles. But the number one deal breaker is the forhead skull plate, its sunken or concave, this is seen in only real old bucks.
In my opinion this is an old buck.

Well, genius...if he's 3 1/2 I don't like the rack, I won't shoot him. If he's a lot older then he's on the way down and it would be a great old buck to be able to harvest no matter the rack size.

Thanks a lot for your consulting though, you're really helpful.

Farm lands is correct!

I'm not sure where you're located, and deer ages are tough to judge if you aren't experienced locally. But, I would think that the smaller buck is 2 1/2 or 3 1/2, and the bigger one is at least two to four years older than the smaller one. Given that they're both in the same area, and presumably have access to the same nutrition, just look at the difference in body size and antler mass.

be a good photo for the qdma tv show guys to argue about. i thought he looked pretty old myself.

Thats a nice deer. But his belly hasnt really dropped and his shoulders/neck can fill more. Imo hes probably 3 1/2.

3.5 - 4.5 and old enough to make the opening morning dirt nap !

3 1/2 - 4 1/2 easy.

if you are to dumb not to know whether like the rack or not ,then don't hunt. throw that camera away and just hunt,its not hunting if you bait him to a camera and then go kill him over the bait.hunters these days want to know every deer by name before they hunt. just go hunt and see what shows up,you guys take all the fun out of the hunt. if it was up to me i'd outlaw all trail cameras and baiting,then you'd have to become a REAL hunter...

3 1/2 to 4 1/2 a nice mature buck to take out of the herd if the shot presentes its self..Good luck bro

-NICK

age shmage if it looks good shootem

probably 4.5 to 5.5, its not an exact science but he looks mature to me for sure, ground him and check his teeth

obviously he has never singled out one deer and hunted him all year long, it takes a diciplined hunter to be selective and also helps us manage these bucks... look at the deer 10 yrs ago. untill Ar. started the 3-point rule 90% of your bucks were 1.5- 2.5 yrs old and dinks, no everyone has a chance to shoot a fully mature deer, doe or buck

Yeah if you compare the two deer, he is definitely older. It's funny that when looking at deer that aren't from your area we make assumptions and at times an older deer may have similar characteristics of a younger deer. You can't single out one or two characteristic (shoulder, swayed back) and make a decision. This is one of those deer that just plain looks old to me. I would be willing to bet that he's 6+. It would definitely be a good one for the experts!

Couldnt agree more my friend...cooldnt agree more.:rock:

I too think he is an older deer. Too me it appears he has good sag to the gut, good muscling in the hind quarters and pretty blocky. The antler bases are quite large, he looks grey. I think he is at least 4.5yrs. old. I would definitely be proud to harvest a buck like that.

old deer - rack going down.

Couldnt have said it better

Pretty big deer to me!!.....Looks about 4.5 to me tho!

3 1/2 to 4 1/2

if that deer is 3 1/2 the deer next to him doesnt exist because hes 0 years old.

In my neck of the woods, the small deer (based on antler size only) is most likely 2.5 although we have harvested some 1.5 that look like that. The larger deer is on the down swing of antler development IMO. Proabably 6.5. Notice in the second picture the PRONOUNCED 90 degree angle in the brisket area. That is a sign of a very mature deer.

I'd say 3/5 or 4.5...

look how beaded up his bases are i haven't seen that in a younger deer

three and a half I would guess

Aging Deer- This might help....
 

The 1½-Year-Old Buck (Yearling)


It is often said a yearling buck resembles a "doe with antlers," which makes it relatively easy to discern. The 1½-year-old buck will not develop the swollen neck and muscular characteristics of older bucks. These bucks tend to have thin hindquarters and long, thin legs. Think of a teenaged boy, not yet reaching full height and not nearly "filled in."
Almost all yearlings have an antler spread less than 13 inches. These "teenagers" have not learned to be as secretive as their older associates are, so they often enter food plots earlier than older bucks and tend to be in the vicinity of doe family groups. The average size of a buck's antlers doubles between 1½ and 2½ years of age, so it is a good decision to let a yearling buck grow at least another year.
2½-Year-Old Buck


The 2½-year-old group is more difficult than yearlings to judge. The majority of this age group still have antler spreads inside the ears, but some individuals may produce a good set of antlers. During rut, this age class produces a limited amount of neck swelling due to muscle development, and the waist, or area just in front of the back legs, is relatively thin. Their hindquarters are much more filled in than the yearling's, but their legs appear to be "long and lanky." This age class has lots of growing to do before reaching full maturity, so it is best to let them grow at least another year. Their racks are only about 60 percent of the size they will be at 5½ to 6½ years.
3½-Year-Old Buck


The ability to distinguish 3½-year-old age group is important to a management program emphasizing harvest of mature-aged bucks with maximum antler development. During the rut, the buck's neck is thickly muscled, yet there is still a distinct junction between the neck and shoulders. Some biologists compare its look to that of a well-conditioned racehorse.
The chest region may begin to appear deeper than the hindquarter area; inside spread of antlers typically is at or outside the ears. These bucks can develop impressive antlers, especially on well-managed properties in productive habitats; they are easily mistaken for "mature" deer. In reality, they have reached only about 75 percent of maximum antler development.
4½-Year-Old Buck


A white-tailed buck physiologically matures by 4½ years of age. By this age they have almost all of their adult body mass and have lost the racehorse look. Its neck region is fully muscled, giving the appearance of blending into the shoulders, and the waistline is as deep as the chest. Buck activity patterns may have changed by this age due to an increased wariness; they may not venture into open areas until about dark. Physiological maturity is closely associated with the maturing of a buck's antlers. By this age, the average buck will have grown about 90 percent of his total antler size.
5½- to 6½-Year-Old Buck (Mature or Prime)


Fully matured bucks have a distinctive look that is undeniable once experienced. This publication groups deer 5½ years old and 6½ years old into one age class, because few hunters or managers will want to try to differentiate animals. Antler size typically is maximum at 5½ to 6½ years of age and may deteriorate thereafter, depending on forage conditions.
During the rut, the buck's neck blends completely into his shoulders, and his front half appears to be one large mass. His legs appear shorter than legs of younger deer, but this is an optical illusion because his chest is taking up more of the viewing area. Just as people in middle age, most mature bucks exhibit a sagging belly. Their eyes are squinty in appearance. Mature bucks often show battle scars such as torn ears, broken antler tines, and scratched necks.
7½-Year-Old and Older Bucks


Overmatured bucks are often mistaken for younger animals because some body characteristics tend to revert. Muscularity is lost in the neck area because these animals may not participate as frequently in normal rutting activities. A swayed back and a prominent potbelly are other signs of this aged buck. Loose skin develops on the neck and head areas as muscle tone declines. Recent battle scars may not be visible, but old scars such as slit ears are evident. A buck's antler size tends to decline with advancing age.

deer dude
i would say the deer you have in these pictures is at least 6 years old if not 7 or more. he is an old dude and has payed his dues...just to make it in the woods this long is awsome. he is definatly , if not past due to be harvested. i think in no way will his antlers get bigger, but maybe smaller. gl and happy huntin

wow, everyone has an opinion, but to think he is 4 years old lol

I would say 4.5+ hes got the brisket and hocks showing good!