Mature Two Point Mule Deer Challenge

[WAcoueshunter]

Looking forward to this thread!   I love big two's!

[boneaddict]

B4noon. What an old buck.  You need to add him to the warrior project thread. I think in the phography section.     I’d bet that boy used to be a beautiful big 4. 

Note: Still legal in this state because of his eye guard.   

[B4noon]

Little kicker on his right big fan of O&M score (old &mature) over B&C

[7mmfan]

Now we're talking

[Brute]

This could be a fun thread.  Great education tool and could raise a few bucks for the site.

Like bone said, if you observe enough deer you just kind of "know" without really breaking it down.  Sort of like field judging antler size

Gut, back, proportions of the body, and face and head are all tell tale signs of rough age.  Its definitely not a science though.  Only way you absolutely cant tell is by the antlers.  Width, height, and number of points wont tell you a thing.  Even mass doesnt really work.  Obviously a buck with 36+ inches of mass is gonna be a mature buck but I've shot bucks over 4.5 that were on the "spindly" side.

I have a 183" buck from Colorado that was aged by fish and game at 3 5 years old.  I knew he was younger but couldn't believe it.

I think this thread has opened a fantastic discussion about antlers, genetics, even weather (drought).

Here is an example of what Karl was discussing about age and points.   This a 2.5 year old buck.   Most in this state would shoot him in a heartbeat.  He was harvested last year at 4.5 and substantiated by a biologist.   He was unreal.
At 2.5

Here is a example:
As soon as I saw this guy my first thought of him was his gut hanging down.
A mature buck for sure.

[kellama2001]

Cool thread! Tagging along so I can learn something 

[Timberstalker]

I'm just adding to the conversation here - your $20 is safe,   But I watched this buck for 3 separate years.  He was a big 2 with eyeguards every year.  I think I have another picture timestamped somewhere - need to search.

[Karl Blanchard]

Great shot brute!  Look at the face on that dude. Fun thing to do with these pics is zoom them in until the antlers are cropped out and just look at the facial features.  Those old bucks are no different than us.  Older they are the more weathered they look.  Snout looks "shorter" and more rounded.  Hair coloration, scars, etc.

[BeWitty]

Not a true 2pt but close. Not sure how old he is? My guess was 3-4?

[Jonathan_S]

Not the best picture, his Walker and oxygen tank were behind the brush, and almost needed dentures

Impressive old boy

[crabcreekhunter]

Not the greatest pic on the one but he was fairly mature, and the harvested one was pretty old going off his teeth and sagging body when on the hoof.

[Jonathan_S]

Some really cool looking bucks 

[boneaddict]

I’m exempt from Jonathan’s offer, but here is one.

[Jonathan_S]

Nice 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Hhhmm