How old do you think this buck is?

[Elkfun12]

My brother just made it up to his cameras. Got a single picture of this beast. Crowned on top. Looks like a old warrior to me. What do you guys think?

[mburrows]

Looks like a mature buck but not super old based on my completely uneducated guess. He’s missing the sway in his back real old bucks seem to get. I’m gonna guess a 4 or 5 year old buck.

[swanderek]

6-7
Just a guess

[JakeLand]

By his face , blocky squared chest and tapered hind quarters I’m guessing 9+ but as anything it’s a guess

[bigmacc]

Nice buck, big buck and many more compliments as far as judging a nice buck goes. IMHO, this buck is in the prime of his life, not old, not young but right in his wheelhouse, probably feels pretty good about himself, still a bit cocky but is at that time of his life where he's thinking his best years may be behind him. No sway back, no belly, no droopy shoulders or hind quarters. Once again, prime of his life. My  , 3-5 years old

[Doublelunger]

He's a mature buck in his prime. No sway back yet so not an old timer. I guess 5-7.

[huntnnw]

unless you have a history with a specific buck it is almost impossible to age a buck once he hits 4.5 and older

[dvolmer]

unless you have a history with a specific buck it is almost impossible to age a buck once he hits 4.5 and older

totally agree with above.  Plus the picture is not very good.

[OutHouse]

His noggin looks pretty darn big when zoomed in. With my limited skills, I'd say he's at least 3.5!

[Smokepole]

If you take me here this fall, I will gladly let you know the date of his death.  Then you'll have some data to go by.  Hope this helps.

[Elkfun12]

Yeah I know it's a crappy picture. It's the only one he got and he has no history with him. He switched out the camera for a 20mp camera so maybe he'll get a better picture next year but slim chance. I zoomed in and took a screen shot hopefully it will be a better picture when I post. Looks old to me but I'm no expert. His chest is super wide and his eyes look sunk into his head. Maybe he's just tired of rutting who knows. Thanks for the input. Just passing the time during off season

[Seabass]

unless you have a history with a specific buck it is almost impossible to age a buck once he hits 4.5 and older

I 100% agree with that statement. After 4.5 the changes aren't drastic enough to pinpoint. I have countless trail cam pics to back that up.

[idaho guy]

By his face , blocky squared chest and tapered hind quarters I’m guessing 9+ but as anything it’s a guess

  looks old to me also 7-10 

[bigmacc]

My dad killed a big non-typical in 1967 that the game dept caught wind of, the game manager at the time came to camp to talk with my dad about bringing a "few others" up t o get a look at him, my dad said sure but didn't want a "big deal" made of it, it was agreed. In the next couple days or so a handful of Game dept folks with a portable scale, cameras and clipboards showed up. My dad said no pictures, (I did post our pictures years ago) they weighed him in at over 400lbs, not going to tell the actual weight or how he was cut when weighed, he was field dressed is all I will say. The 2 Bios that were there said he was the biggest buck both had ever seen. They took his jaw and a few weeks later were told he was probably about 13 and 1/2, they said he probably wouldn't have made it through the winter because of his lack of teeth, his hooves were in bad shape and his body was done. I was with my dad when he killed this buck, it was the last buck out of about 6-7 in a herd that numbered over 30 or so. He came out of a thicket moving up a draw, head down swaying side to side, I remember my dad saying something to the effect of "I'm gonna take that one and put him out of his misery". He had the worse case of sway back and drop belly I've ever seen on a buck and I've killed a few in the 6-10 year old range. In my opinion, right around that 6-8 year range is when things start their downward spiral as far as the body goes. I did kill a buck in 2011 that had a head like a herferd cow, big, wide and white faced. I was curious and had him checked, he had the sway back going on and the droopy belly/hind quarters etc and lots of scars on his face, he looked a lot older than a few of the older bucks I've killed and had checked, he even looked older than that buck my dad killed in 67, they claimed he was only 6 and 1/2 and was probably on the downturn, by the looks of him they said "he certainly hadnt led a charmed life" . I guess you just never know, looks can be deceiving

[Old Man8383]

I love the photos on this web page of these amazing old bucks.  He's probably been dodging cougars and hunters for over 10 to 15 years.  Closer to 15 than you might imagine.  I've had the privilege over the years of aging blacktail and mule deer does and bucks by the old wear method and then had a tooth from each deer sent to the lab to determine age by cementum annuli.  Oldest buck was 13.  I field checked that 13 year old buck and pulled the tooth.  He looked like a normal smallish 3pt except his muzzle was white and his front teeth were worn to the gum line or missing.  His lower back molars were badly worn to the gums in spots.  I hope that old buck in the photo was able to dodge cougars and poachers since the photo taken and will make through to another fall.