Aging Bucks: Summer vs Fall

[hesseu]

Do you find it easier to age bucks this time of year? Or, do you find it easier during the fall? Or, does it not make a difference?

My reason for questioning, is it seems like this time of year they are leaner due to the heat and have not finished packing on weight like it seems they do around September.

 

[bueller]

I'm no expert but I think most would agree when I say it's definitely easier during the fall around the time of the rut.

 

[Native Hunter]

Fall is easier I think.

Some really nice mature deer can look like youngsters in the summer. Those are the ones easy to mess up on in summer aging IMHO. By fall, their age becomes more apparent.

But, then there are some deer that look like Sherman Tanks in the summer and will look like a larger tank in the fall. Any time you look at a deer like that, it will be easy to see he is an old deer.

I think that in summer aging, it is easy to guess some deer too young.

Post rut can also be more difficult aging with some deer but not others.

BTW - I'm no expert either - just a long time observer.

 

[BradB]

I don't think we have problems with aging due to skinny deer down here in the south. Groceries do not seem to be holding them back. Here is a couple to practice on.