hard to judge bucks

[Mallardmasher]

The deer look totally different spring compared to fall, deceiving trying to judge who who in the zoo. Even bucks with distinct marking, colors are vastly different.

So this is a brand new location, just trying to introduce protein with apples to get them going.
The deer pictured below, I am having a hard time, deciding what he will become, I have multiple pics from last year of an ear width 25" tall true 5x5 that will go over 150". Rut colors and weight are throwing me for loops.

What do you think he will become, definitely skinny, but has girth and some length for not being fed yet. Also how old do you think?

[Timberstalker]

Need some more growth to really put any guesses out there.

[Mallardmasher]

He is actually fairly big just bone skinny, hard rut and long winter. How old do you think he is
I have rut buck pic's from last fall of two bucks, on with a torn ear and one with an injured leg, healed over, but noticeable, they had dark top knots, grizzled faces and fairly grey bodies, now their top knots and faces look like the buck above but with nice brown coats and plump bodies. They have been supplemented all winter.. The drastic change spring to fall is very decieving

[redi]

No eye guards starting doubt he will have any

[fishnfur]

Still looks young to me.  The size of the eye in relation to the head makes me think he is only 2 years old.  The antler mass he is carrying early on in the season makes me think he must be at least three or have really good genes.  I''m betting on a 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 if he's got the genes for it. 

He's way above where the bucks that I've captured are.  They are just now starting to grow them, or at least that was the case about 10 days ago.  Here's what appears to be a 3 or 4 year old that has just the very starts of growth showing at the end of April (bad trail cam/poor pic):  He was traveling with a younger/smaller buck that was also just showing bumps.
 

[WSU]

What do you find to be the best attractor to get them on camera?

[floatinghat]

Let's see some of last years pics.

[fishnfur]

I just put my cams on trails without bait.  It's a real hit and miss proposition.  The spot I caught this buck was one of 120ish videos of deer and just one elk during a seven week soak.  I'd had it there two years ago for a month soak and only got one video capture in an entire month. 

The OP, Mallardmasher, has a feeding program going on.  He had a thread going on in January  (I think) discussing his feeding techniques - I believe he puts his cams on or close by the feeder.   He also had a couple of threads last Oct - Nov. with great pics of the gorgeous bucks he is hunting.  If you search the forum for something like "buck" and his user name, you should have no trouble in finding those posts and pics.

[Mallardmasher]

Unfortunately the bucks have been displaced by Boo Boo. Time to stop until hunting season. Plenty of protien now. They don’t need supplementation.

[Mallardmasher]

Another aite

[Mallardmasher]

He had mercy on me with no bear box around camera. So close he fogged it up and the next 5 min worth of pic’s where blurry.

[Mallardmasher]

I use Apples in the fall, along with 45%  of 20% protien deer pellets, 45% sweet cob and 10% Roasted Soy beans. To get them addicted to the grain. I lace it with my secret mixture, 1 1/2 gallons of pressed pure apple juice not from concentrate, three bags brown sugar one big jar peanut butter, bring to a boil. Stir repeatedly and let it cool, i drizzle it over the grain when introducing them to grain.
I also mix 1/2 gallon with one gallon buck jam apple, to pour over my mineral sites, they go nuts over it.

[fishnfur]

No wonder you've got bears.  That mix sounds like a candy shop.

[Whitenuckles]

Bucks at my place have 3-4 inch eye guards already....

[Mallardmasher]

No s crest sauce now, only in Oct when I start back up. All stands done now, once new growth starts, only minerals. This stand, was a new one, known big bucks in area, I wanted to get them looking. Accomplished that, and found boo boo, now It will be shut down until Oct. only secret sauce for first week to get them eating grain mixture.

Knuckles, let's see some pic's