Age this deer
- Thread starter omicron1792
- Start date
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
That’s an old mature deer for sure. Brute. I don’t k ow what that age strata is in your area, but here that would be a 5.5yo at his peak.Any guesses? I don’t have any history as far as I can tell.
Body-wise he seems young to me, for our area. 3.5-4.5.
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
I’ll admit Brian I struggle to age deer from pics. I can usually tell a really young from really old. The 3-5 year olds are hard for me. If I don’t include rack advancement I’d say I’m plain bad at it
omicron1792
5 year old buck +
Where are you @TenPoint. I forget how much bigger northern deer are. 200lb deer are monsters down here in Alabama.
Brian662
5 year old buck +
I'm with you on that, at best it is an estimated guess. Studies show even jaw testing isn't definitive.
Wisconsin
Hoytvectrix
5 year old buck +
Apparently cementum is the most accurate for determining deer age:
Which Deer Aging Technique is More Accurate, Jawbone or Cementum?
How accurate is the tooth replacement and wear technique compared to cementum annuli for aging deer? Here are the facts and a guide to using the two methods.
deerassociation.com
Brian662
5 year old buck +
Yeah, I've seen that article. Most accurate but far from certain.Apparently cementum is the most accurate for determining deer age:
Which Deer Aging Technique is More Accurate, Jawbone or Cementum?
How accurate is the tooth replacement and wear technique compared to cementum annuli for aging deer? Here are the facts and a guide to using the two methods.
Hoytvectrix
5 year old buck +
I was watching Winke's latest video on how great bucks age tonight and I had a thought. You hear from a lot of the deer biologists how difficult it is to age deer. Even labs apparently have a difficult time depending on the method.
Winke commented that he over-estimated two different buck's ages and he was really surprised because he had a history with both. The current idea is that bucks with really good genetics will sometimes show great racks as 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 year olds. If you look at the footage he shows of these bucks as what he thought were 2.5 or 3.5 year olds, the bucks' bodies look nearly or definitely mature.
The thought I had when watching this is that you hear so much focus on bucks with supreme antler genetics, but nearly nothing on their great body genetics. Some human athletes have great genetics and mature physically at 16 or 17 (think LeBron James). Why would bucks and their body's be any different? You never hear this discussed though when people are talking buck aging.
Maybe we are harvesting a lot of bucks with above average body and antler genetics because we think they are mature when they are actually just stud 3.5 year olds?
Winke commented that he over-estimated two different buck's ages and he was really surprised because he had a history with both. The current idea is that bucks with really good genetics will sometimes show great racks as 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 year olds. If you look at the footage he shows of these bucks as what he thought were 2.5 or 3.5 year olds, the bucks' bodies look nearly or definitely mature.
The thought I had when watching this is that you hear so much focus on bucks with supreme antler genetics, but nearly nothing on their great body genetics. Some human athletes have great genetics and mature physically at 16 or 17 (think LeBron James). Why would bucks and their body's be any different? You never hear this discussed though when people are talking buck aging.
Maybe we are harvesting a lot of bucks with above average body and antler genetics because we think they are mature when they are actually just stud 3.5 year olds?
Another thing to consider - maybe moreso in the south - a lot of these deer eat nutritious supplemental feed. We have killed three deer over 200 lbs - all had eaten supplemental feed. Never killed a buck that weighed 200 that we didnt know if it had eaten supplemental feed.
What is the age of the larger deer?
What is the age of the larger deer?
Mortenson
5 year old buck +
Guessing both those deer are 5.5+ for your situation. Nice frame on the one!
Hoytvectrix
5 year old buck +
I posted this buck earlier in the thread. Here are two video clips of him. One from late-December of last year, and another from mid-October of this year.
I am guessing he is 3.5 this year. I thought he was a new bonus buck this summer but found the single earlier clip of him last year. After EHD this year, all but one other buck were wiped out. Regardless, I think he is getting a mandatory pass from us this year.
I am guessing he is 3.5 this year. I thought he was a new bonus buck this summer but found the single earlier clip of him last year. After EHD this year, all but one other buck were wiped out. Regardless, I think he is getting a mandatory pass from us this year.
Bill
Administrator
I always age low. But I’m saying 3.5 and I’m confident because I know the neighborhood. I’m confident that this is a buck dreams are made of if you can get him to live a year or two more. Sorry had to edit and add more. If you let him walk you may never see him again. But if you let him walk and do see him in 2 years only Baker would pass him.
Brian662
5 year old buck +
It sounds like with the EHD outbreak you've had, the smart move is to let the deer reproduce for a year or two in an attempt to bounce back a bit. Just my opinion.
