This buck is getting a pass until next year

[TxAg]

This might be the best buck on the ranch, but we're gona let him grow up. I was impressed when my buddy came back with these pics. He's a very nice young deer.


 

   

   

   

[The Night Stalker]

ridiculous- have you been feeding any supplements. I hate to see him when he gets some age on him.

[David Yukon]

Wow, that is a serious set of antlers!! He look so tiny under them!!

[The Night Stalker]

oh, I had some really nice deer around the farm but have not seen any for a couple of years. I really do not know what happened. I am working on try to thin some old very smart does.

[JamesKerr]

Wow!! I hope no one around you kills him.

[rastaman]

Now THAT would be an interesting poll and thread.  Put his picture up and ask how many guys and girls on here would/could let him live to see another year.   :eek:

[TxAg]

It stinks that so much land in TX is private (meaning we generally pay to hunt) but that does help reassuring us that he'll be around next year.  We're not too worried about the neighbors killing him, and nobody else hunts this ranch but us.

As far as supplemental feed, we tried putting out cotton seed this spring. I don't know that we put out enough to really make a difference, but the farmer does plant a lot of wheat.

We have some poor deer this year, but then there are a few like this guy.

I'm a dummy and passed on a different deer a couple weeks ago...turns out my buddy shot him and he went 149"

[Night Wing]

If this buck came within my 20 yards and under range and offered me a broadside lung shot, I'd arrow him.

[Big Ed]

Very nice!

[centaur]

Give him a year or two and he is going to be a whopper. I bet most guys wouldn't pass him up right now. Hope he survives your drought conditions.

[krink]

Very Nice!!  I would like to see what other members think his age is.  My guess would be 3 1/2.  Doesn't look to me like he shows the signs of an older deer.  I doubt I could let him pass though (ok he would get educated of what a hunter looks like after one shot and missed!!)

[danderson]

can't believe how small a body he has compared to northern deer!

[TxAg]

He is very small bodied even for a TX deer.  I can't guarantee he's 4.5 but pretty sure based on pics of him last year.

[krink]

Im not seeing 4 1/2.  I am not expert but have reviewed this subject  lately.  My old man has land and he has his rules on the deer killed there.  So I had to learn.

So not trying to be confrontational, and mainly looking to improve my deer aging skills I will tell you what I see and hopefully my and many others aging skill can be honed a little.

First picture I see the deer's belly isnt puffing out like an older deer in the 6 and up range have MOST of the time so I do know the deer still has life and good bone growth years to come.  Also I see a slender neck.  I do not know if they are in the rut down there or if they were when the picture was taken but its neck is small.

The second picture further more shows me the skinnyness of the neck.  Also it starts to show me the face and how the skin around it is still tight.

The third picture shows the back and belly.  Its back isnt drooped from age nor is the belly.  The forth picture show the same stuff.  What I cant see is the deer walking which would show the deers stride.  Just like humans the young ones have a different walk than the older folks.  

Im not saying you are wrong by any means I just put out there what I see and what signs I have to age the deer.  If I am wrong in my sightings please tell me.  If you want that horrible looking deer taken care of please tell me as well.  I can be over there tomorrow!!

Edit:  This is the main site I have used to fine tune the witch craft they call aging deer.  I have look at many other site but this one helped out the most.  I also tried every aging deer contest I could find on the net.

 http://www.1atexasdeerhunting.com/bodyagingdeer.htm
Kyle

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I'd give him  2 to 3 years myself and let the little guy put some weight on. I've shot rabbits bigger in the body..... horn soup doesn't do much for me personally.

[Dmaxshawn]

Given this years extreme drought conditions in Texas he is probably down in weight.  Jeff I'm with you on this one at least let him spread some seeds.  

Shawn

[KentuckyTJ]

Shuweeee, some fine breedin' stock. Good for you.

[Friend]

Resplendent, magnificent, arresting…… currently a precursor to nobility.

He indeed possesses rare beauty at such a young age.

You have my admiration for your perseverance in commanding such demanding self constraint.

[RM81]

That's a hard one to pass up.  Not sure I could do it if he's standing at 15yds broadside.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

[The Night Stalker]

Every time I get a good buck to hunt, I have to compete with some good old boy shooting him from the road. Has happened to me more than once. Some of them need to be an example of. Last year, they even shot some livestock.