How old is this Buck?

[sirmissalot]

3 1/2

A shooter but would be cool to see him next year

[boneaddict]

3.5

[blacktailcody]

3.5-4.5

[Elkslayer]

Sooo.......what would you guys say if I told you I believe that he is at least 7.5?

[baldopepper]

It's possible that deer is only 2 1/2, I'm a litle doubtful, but it's certainly possible. (Saw a little league baseball player this year who was only 12 but was 6'3" and weighed 240 lbs.-same type of oddity can happen in animals) My younger brother shot a 37", 23 point mule deer some years ago that was judged to be only 4 1/2 years old-nature can do strange things. I'm still guessing that deer is 3-4 years old.

[whacker1]

Sooo.......what would you guys say if I told you I believe that he is at least 7.5?

I take it that you have been seeing what you believe to be the same buck year after year?

[Elkslayer]

This will be the 5th year in a row that I have had this buck coming in. He first showed up in 2008 as a 138" 5x5 with a 16' spread credit. That year I put him at about 3.5yrs old and found both sheds that spring. In 2009 I would guess that he was right around 145", I found 1 shed from him that next spring and it scored right at 65". 2010 seems to have been his prime as far as antler scores go. I have both sheds and giving him a 18" spread credit he scores right at 156". 2011 he returned and it appeared that his G2 was starting to split and he was'nt quite as tall or wide as in 2010. I did not find any sheds from last year yet, but as long as the squirrels haven't finished them off I plan on finding them this spring. I was suprised to see that his G2's are slick this year as I figured with age he would possibly get a little trashier.
It is possible that in 2008 he was only a 2.5yr old, but as I said I picked up both sheds that year and he scored 138". I dont believe that he was that big at that age.
I can't seem to locate my 2008 pictures of him right now but here are a some pictures of him from 2009, 2010, 2011 and now this year.

So if my estimation is correct he is 7.5 yrs old this year!
 

[bonkellekter]

Looks to me like you have the same buck up to 2011... 2012 looks to me like a different buck with very similar genetics

[WAcoyotehunter]

I think the deer from 2011 is a different, older buck.  He's bigger up front for sure...shoulder/neck is way heavier.

[Elkslayer]

Same buck guys I have hundres of photos of this guy.

[Elkslayer]

Notice the scars under his left eye, he has these in 2010, 2011 and this year.

[baldopepper]

Well, I for one will take your word on it.  As i said before, nature does strange things and the aging process is certainly individually  different for animals as well as humans. Fun progression of pictures to see.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I was going to guess 2.5-13.5.  What do I win?

[sirmissalot]

I think the deer from 2011 is a different, older buck.  He's bigger up front for sure...shoulder/neck is way heavier.

I thought the same thing at first but the date stamp from 2011 is from December, which would explain the bigger neck etc

Pretty neat photos, definitely looks like a similar buck, amazing to me he's not putting on more mass as he regresses. His body and face sure don't show his age. Do you have any color photos of him from this year?

[Elkslayer]

I was going to guess 2.5-13.5.  What do I win?

You win a 1 week paid vacation! Just send me your boss's number and I'll let him know.