I think he's an old buck. His nose is very long ( compared to wis deer) and he has short tines with long beams. A buck past his prime.

Darn it.

For the record, I would have shot him earlier if I would have ever seen him

I'm gonna agree with rafsob, he has that lower stomach swag, long in the face, even grayish. I'm puttin him at 5 or better. The quote, past his prime could be close. It is so hard to judge them in the summer coats, and during this time. Normally that is the case, in this case I agree, to me it's obvious. If you are blessed to take him, have him aged. I, for one would love to know.

I would love to take this buck. But, there are actually much bigger ones on our property to pursue. Even a few non-typicals. But.....we never seem to shoot these bucks. We hunt in the big woods. 1000s of acres of continuous woods, clear cuts, swamps, etc.... We go several years between anyone getting a buck. But, we've also shot 300lb bucks and bucks with amazing racks. There are lots of big deer and lots of old deer......just hard to find them.

But....every day I'm in the woods.....I know a bruiser could show up. One of these days, I know I'll shoot a Booner. But it could be 5..10...15...20....

Also look at the long nose, he may even be older than 4.5.

In your small area on this place that you hunt, you could be looking at a " bully " deer as well. Don't know if your state allows more than one buck tag, but I would watch him close if you are seeing him. He could be pushing bucks out of the area, your area anyway. If I could take him I would.

The area I got these pictures from is about a mile away. We're just scouting out a new area. This is in a 1/4 clearing in a huge overgrown clear cut. The visibility in the clearcut is about 5 feet so, if I hunt this area, the deer would have to walk into this opening.

About 15 years ago and more ago, before the cut was this overgrown, we use to hunt the area. Our neighbors use to drive it with good success. Now it's a jungle. We need to cut again.


In your small area on this place that you hunt, you could be looking at a " bully " deer as well. Don't know if your state allows more than one buck tag, but I would watch him close if you are seeing him. He could be pushing bucks out of the area, your area anyway. If I could take him I would.

Oh yeah, one buck a year where I hunt. But I like this buck and wouldn't mind putting my tag on him. Hell, I may end up shooting a smaller buck....or no buck at all.