Age these deer

[toddyboman]

I am kind wondering about these 2 bucks and thier ages.....

That smaller 6 pointer appears to have about the same body size as the bigger racked buck.....Could I be looking at a buck that has bad genetics???? Maybe a "management buck"??

Or maybe it just the way they are standing.....or maybe I'm just crazy.:eek::D

[Sam16]

Neither bodies very big... rackwise looks like a 1.5 and a 2.5 respectively. Not sure though

[WVdeerhunter]

I would say they are 1.5 to 2 years old. I would give them another year or 2 to see What there rack does.

[buckee]

I'd say 2.5 and 3.5.

[wtnhunt]

Looks to me like both are likely 2.5 year olds Todd. The one on the right will be a nice buck this next year. Like the little kicker off the right g-2.

[rhine16]

I want to say 1.5 on the buck to the left, but he looks like a 2.5. If so, he'd definitely be a management imo.

From body size on the buck on right, i'd say 2.5. But you have to remember these deer are recovering from the rut. That buck on the right may very likely just be run down.

[Tominator]

Tough to say, but in Ohio, those are both 1.5's I'd say.

[Ravin R10 man]

I'd say 2.5 and 3.5.

that was my first thought too..

[Ambuscher]

2.5 and 3.5

[Rhino]

Looks like they're both 2.5 to me too.

[toddyboman]

Looks like they're both 2.5 to me.

This is kinda what I was thinking.....So looks like I have a possible management buck on my hands:rolleyes:

[Leo]

Here's the thing. The ONLY way you are going to know for sure is to shoot both deer and pull the jawbones.

From 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 the jawbone method is quite accurate.

The reason you really need to do this is that if that smaller buck turns out to be only 1 1/2 yrs old and the bigger is 3 1/2. Guess which one had better genetic potential?

The safe bet if you are trying to grow big bucks is don't shoot the ones that obviously look like they are between 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 (which both those deer do)

[lungbuster12point06]

The problem with trying to age these deer from that camera angle is all but impossible.........you need a broadside shot of both deer to try to accurately determine thier age.

If I were to guess I would say 1.5 and2.5 and no I would not consider the 6 to be a management deer as he is just 1.5 years old and could be a booner by age 4.5;)

[Michiganbowhunter_SQ2]

tough to say, not to familiar with the deer in your area. Here where I hunt in central mich, they would be about 2.5 year olds, up in the U.P. they would 1.5 year olds. i'd wait to see if you get any pics of him this fall, if he isn't any better, put him in the freezer .

[HuntnMa]

i would guess 2.5 and 3.5

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.

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.

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.

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.