Aging this buck?

JeffDilla · Dec 16, 2012

Hey guys,

I was showing a friend a picture of the buck I shot last year and we got on the topic of its age. I don't really know much about aging deer but we estimated it to be 3-5 years old. Can any of you experts help shed some light on this? I know it's not an ideal pic, but what would you estimate this deer to be from the pic, if it's even possible?

If it helps, the deer dressed weighed in at 165 lbs. and was an 8 pointer

Thanks for any help.

birddog · Dec 16, 2012

3-5? In Maine, that would be a monster. That's a great buck, but more like 2.5 years old, tops.

Just my opinion.

JeffDilla · Dec 16, 2012

That's a great buck, but more like 2.5 years old, tops.

Shows you how much I know about aging them

buck460XVR · Dec 16, 2012

birddog said:
3-5? In Maine, that would be a monster. That's a great buck, but more like 2.5 years old, tops.

Just my opinion.

I agree. Here in Wisconsin that would be an average 2.5 year old.

sage5907 · Dec 17, 2012

If it's a really healthy deer on good food it could be only 1 1/2 years old. It think at the most it's 2 1/2 years old. The field dressed weight of 165 pounds says it's a 2 1/2 year old deer. I feed deer all year long at my house and I have three 1 1/2 year old bucks coming to the feeder that look just about like that. Their names are Buddy, Sissy and Wild Man. When Sissy was a fawn I thought he was a doe. Shooter

splattergun · Dec 17, 2012

Do you still have the lower jaw? Use the teeth to estimate age...
http://timberwolfinformation.org/info/deerjaw/ages.htm

Patocazador · Dec 17, 2012

Splattergun is right. The only semi-accurate way to age a deer is by looking at the eruption and wear of the teeth. Antler and body size are just a clue to nutrition and genetics but not to the age of the deer.

H&Hhunter · Dec 17, 2012

Teeth is the only way, I agree.

JeffDilla · Dec 17, 2012

Thanks for all the replies. I'm not hellbent on getting the exact age of the deer. I no longer have the jaw bone, hell, I don't even have any meat left save for one roast. I was just seeing what you all had for estimations based on the picture. I understand that you can't get an exact age based on appearance alone.

Thanks again.

paintballdude902 · Dec 17, 2012

2.5 looks right to me.

Lloyd Smale · Dec 20, 2012

1.5-2.5 tops

Davek1977 · Dec 20, 2012

yep, definitely a young deer!

groundhog34 · Dec 30, 2012

The teeth are the most accurate method. In Alabama that deer would most likely be 2.5 although it could be 3.5. I do not see any grey and it does not seem to be real stocky, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DEER IN MAINE.

Aging this buck?

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