How Old is this Buck?
 

I can't decide if this is an older buck with poor antler genetics or if it's a younger deer with great genetics. It's pushing 200lbs in an area where a lot of bucks are 150lbs. He's got a thick neck on October 2nd. He has a long face and kind of a Roman nose. He was taken in PA.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

200LBS live wieght? Guessed or actually weighed?

In my estimation this buck is only 2.5. I reallize that you can't confirm age by antlers, but there are some characteristics of antlers that can be used like the width, mass and tine length....all to a varying degree. It would be easier to judge if he were alive and standing. I'll wager 2.5 though. He's definetly not a yearling! In my estimation I wouldn't put at 3.5 either, but it's possible.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

Weight is more of an estimate. According to the butcher, the deer weighed 160lb dressed and his chart put that at 197lbs live (I think). It was gutted in the field so a real live weight was never determined. It was bigger than my two 8-pointers (although they were only about a 100 and 120” B&C class deer). I’m thinking that he’s older than my two 8-pointers but his antler genetics aren’t as good. I’ll have to ask the taxidermist for the jaw to be sure. The fat neck and long nose make me think he’s not a 1.5 year old.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

2.5 to 3.5 at the oldest but i would say 2.5

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

I can't tell a lot about him in the condition he is in in the picture, but, just looking at his facial features I agree with Jason N that he is 2.5 or 3.5.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

2.5 seems plausible. The body, neck and face don’t match a 1.5 year old and the rack doesn’t match a mature buck. He was probably a spike or forky last year if he's 2.5. If he's 3.5, he got a raw deal in the rack department. Although I think he's nice for a mountain deer.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

I would go with the 3.5 due to the gray on his brow. At least it looks that way. Be intresting when you get the tooth report back, please update us.

By the way nice buck !!!!

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

2.5 yrs for sure.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

One thing for sure he ain't getting any older. Nice buck,should be great eating.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

I'm already planning the weekend to make summer sausage. In the mean time, I'll make a few pounds of jerky to hold me over. I'll have to get the taxidermist to give me the jaw. I'll try to age it and post a pic of the jaw so some people with more experience than me can take a look.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

If it was living in a agricultural area 160 lbs at 21/2 is possible

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

No agriculture. It’s strictly forest (big woods country). There are beech, cherry, maple and hemlock trees up there. There are also striped maples, ferns, black berry and blueberry bushes in the overgrown clear cut areas. There are three kinds of cover up there – hemlock swamps, mountain laurel thickets and overgrown clear cuts. The field that I’m in is just a grass field and there are only two of them. They never get planted with anything except a small patch of ground cover a few years back.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

1.5 = NO WAY

2.5 = MOST LIKELY

3.5 = SLIGHT POSSIBILITY

What a difference a year can make.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

Well, at least this way I'll know what he's going to look like next year:D. Thanks for all the guesses. I'll see what the taxidermist thinks and then take a look at the teeth.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

I am guessing 3.5+. It looks like an old buck by the head structure/size. Can't wait for the tooth report.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

If that buck were in my area I would have to say 1.5 yrs old.

Most likely a 2.5'er in my opinion.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

i'm guessing about 2.5 years old, but possibly a 3.5. It's early in the season and the rut hasn't started. He has a lot of weight on him for a 2.5 year old because the rut hasn't started.

RE: How Old is this Buck?
 

His body is saying old but his antlers are saying young. They are pretty wide and high for a 6-point. He could have been a spike, then forky, then this. Some deer just don't have the antler genetics. We have a lot of young deer that are 8-points. 1.5 year olds are 8-point baskets and 2.5 year olds are 110-120" class deer.