A couple good lookers

[HunterDan03]

Date is wrong on the one cam

[bowhunterforever]

Nice bucks the last one is a freek

[HunterDan03]

A couple more good prospects in a couple years. The 4x4 has a really good start but looks to be only a 2 year old.

[Becky]

Probably a silly question, but I love looking at all the trail cam threads posted and I always see "will be great next year" "looks only 2 (or 3 or insert age) years old" .. is there a quick easy way to tell how old the animal is? Or is it just something that comes with experience.

[h20hunter]

Most of it is really just body shape. They will of course put on mass as they age to a point when it comes to antlers but for the body it is fairly easy. They will change in the face, paunch, and overall body mass. I bet Bone could post some pics showing various aged deer.

[jackelope]

I can't tell a 2 year old from a 3 year old and I don't think anyone can unless they've been keeping track of them year to year or  if they have a thorough knowledge of the deer in the area and their characteristics. I can usually tell an old deer from a young deer though. The older bucks look old. Their bellies sag, their backs kind of droop a little, they get deep in the chest through the ribs. They get big heads and thicker in the snout for lack of a better word. I'm no expert but those are the things I look at. Look at the 1st buck versus the 2nd buck. I think #1 is a younger deer. #2 is an old buck. Barrel chest, sag in the back, sagging belly. That's what I think. The bucks in the color pic's all are young. Their bellies don't sag, etc.

[Southpole]

I can't tell a 2 year old from a 3 year old and I don't think anyone can unless they've been keeping track of them year to year or  if they have a thorough knowledge of the deer in the area and their characteristics. I can usually tell an old deer from a young deer though. The older bucks look old. Their bellies sag, their backs kind of droop a little, they get deep in the chest through the ribs. They get big heads and thicker in the snout for lack of a better word. I'm no expert but those are the things I look at. Look at the 1st buck versus the 2nd buck. I think #1 is a younger deer. #2 is an old buck. Barrel chest, sag in the back, sagging belly. That's what I think. The bucks in the color pic's all are young. Their bellies don't sag, etc.

Kind of like how humans age!

[jackelope]

Thats how it's going for me anyway.
 

[Goldeneye]

The older bucks look old. Their bellies sag, their backs kind of droop a little, they get deep in the chest through the ribs. They get big heads and thicker in the snout for lack of a better word.

Your description kinda resembles one of the members on this site.  Here's a trailcam picture of him.  Care to venture his name?   




BTW, this is meant only as humor.  I'm entitled today only since it's my birthday...

[jackelope]

Perfect example of an old buck.

[Becky]

  that's awesome.

[Smossy]

Perfect example of an old buck.

With mange.

[jackelope]

Perfect example of an old buck.

With mange.

Is it mange or hair loss?

[Smossy]

Perfect example of an old buck.

With mange.

Is it mange or hair loss?

Hard to tell, Its still looks early, thinning out.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I would say that is a classic example of a middle aged buck with lots more growth potential.