I'm new to the forum and was browsing when I saw this thread. It is harder to age them this time of the year. Having said that, the deer's antler bases look as if they are at least 1 1/2 maybe twice the size of his eyes. He appears larger in the front than the rear, bigger in the girth, and long. I'm gonna put him at 4 to 4 1/2. He does appear to have those " post" looking front legs. I would love to see him in rut. Easier to age later in the year, closer to rut. My observation only. Wait and see.

I second that, have lots of deer pics that I have watched grow up on my place and this one looks similar to those. Remember, They need good nutrition to be this large or larger at 2.5 years.

Here is another pic of the buck I recently got... How would you age him using this photo?

I'll stay with 2 1/2 and maybe 3 1/2 if he was a late drop as a fawn.

Is it to late to put a small food plot in to help put mass on his body as well as his antlers? I work 60 or so hours a week so its hard for me to do any real large plots but having found this guy I would love to not only add to his rack mass but his body mass as well!

2 1/2 this fall. He does have good genetics to have the spread he has, but with another year or 2, his beams will be out to his nose. As to whether to shoot him or not, that is your call. Will he survive the season of other hunters to be able to grow more?

As for a food plot. If you can get water to it, or are getting enough rain, do a no till plot if you have little time to deal with it. There are also many mineral licks you can do that will help with antler growth,,,, if it is legal to put them out in your area.

Too late now to do anything to help his antler growth as they aren't that far from being done growth wise.

No change, remember he looks heavier because of the velvet and the side view pic.

nice deer. I would say 2.5 to 3 yrs. I might wait til next yr. 10 ptr then. Depends on pressure in your area.

I usually give them one year per antler point.

A spike is in his first year.

A forkie in his second.

A 3x3 in his third, so therefore 2 1/2 years or thereabouts.