8 point buck
 

I had seen this buck on opening day of muzzleloader season but passed him up. My Grandaddy (who shot the deer), has instilled in me QDM and letting the bucks with smaller racks go. Long story short, I had this buck cross the powerline I was hunting on Saturday morning but didn't shoot. About an hour later, he chased a doe in front of my Grandaddy who shot him. He thinks this a 4.5 year old deer and was not going to get any bigger, but I disagree. He had a really big body but still had growing to do on his headgear. What do you guys think?

I'm used to the northern deer body size so that thing looks tiny to me...The rack looks like a nice 1.5 or maybe a smaller 2.5 for us up north. Sorry, not much help, I'm just surprised by the size difference between the southern deer and the northern deer.

I understand. South Georgia deer are known for being small.

I dunno bout his age, looks small to me. We've got a lot bigger bodies up here. Looks like a nice 8 point tho, I think your granddad took a nice buck.
-Jake

buck
 

no way to truely tell his age but, as your deer are similar is size to ours, I would say he is a 3-year old to 3.5 year deer. And they dont stop growing at 4.5. They will get bigger right on up til 6 or 7 years of age

is your grandad happy? thats all that matters

sometimes you gotta let go of this QDMA crap and just have a good time and remember what it's all about.

You have plenty of time in life to let em walk

if i was in georgia i would have shot him, still would have shot him up here too. nice deer.

He's happy, but he thought the buck was bigger, and he would have passed him up if he had known how big he was. And he is the one who taught me QDM, so it was a bit ironic that he shot this deer.

It's a very nice buck in my opinion. Had you shot it, you would have shot a very nice buck. SInce your granddad shot it, congrats to him. No reason to have regrets with a buck like that. If he's happy with it, that is what is important. Deer management is not a bad thing. UNLESS it begins to take the enjoyment out of hunting. Then it becomes a problem. So, if your granddad is happy, then it's a great buck.
-Jake

He looks like a nice 2.5yo would up here. Maybe 3.5 max.

But I don't care about QDM. I would have shot that buck. It's nice.

How much did it weigh? In our camp, weight of deer is just as big a deal as score. Although I would take either. :D

I live in central Alabama which is very comparable to your area. The deer would have a darker color if he was older. Generally if they have that reddish color they are young, it fades with age. When they get old 4.5+ they get darker brown and have black hair on the top of their back between the shoulders extending down the back. When you see one its obvious. Don't argue with him though, he knows the truth as well. Its not that old and could have grown another 1-2yrs at least. Just tell him you will shoot them that young if he is going to. Remember to save a picture to show him when you shoot yours that young. Like another poster said weight is a very good determining factor. If you can lift him by yourself with the guts out... hes not old enough.

Jeff not necessarily if he lived in the open where the sun hit him a lot he would lighten up.

IMO this is a 4.5 yo buck, his long snout usually means a few years on him.

But to be honest who gives a rat behind how old he was look at granps face it was worth it.

Compared to deer that I see here in WV, he looks to be 1 1/2 to a 2 1/2 year old deer but that doesn't matter. The smile on your grandad's face tells me it's plenty big enough. Great pic and one you'll cherish years down the road.

Looks like a decent size deer to me. I think it may have a little age as well due to the long snout. Congrats to your granddad!

Forget about QDM in this situation...look at that smile on your grandfathers face. He looks happy to take the buck, therefore everyone should be happy right along with him.
Cherish the good times you have to be with your grandfather while you have him! (not trying to be negative)

Forget about QDM in this situation...look at that smile on your grandfathers face. He looks happy to take the buck, therefore everyone should be happy right along with him.
Cherish the good times you have to be with your grandfather while you have him! (not trying to be negative)

If you're really interested in finding out the age, check out the tooth wear on the lower jaw. There are charts on-line that you can compare to in order to determine age.

He did have a nice body. He weighed about 160-165.

These pics don't really do justice to the deer's color. He had almost a black mane running from his neck down his back. He also had a really gray face. My Grandaddy could very well be right about his age and he's happy with him so I am too :happy0001: