Age this deer

[jlane35]

So I’m going to post 3 different buck pictures. Just so you can see what the deer in my area look like. What I think I’m looking at, I’m probably wrong, is 2 1/2 year old buck. A 3 1/2- 4 1/2 year old and then a 5 1/2 year old +. I’m really curious on how old the 7 point is that I think is 5+.

2 1/2 year olds


3 1/2-4 1/2


5 1/2 +

 

[Mennoniteman]

I would guess the 7 point to be 3 to 4.

 

[jlane35]

I would guess the 7 point to be 3 to 4.

So do you think that 8 who I think is 3, just has superior genetics and is actually 3? His body is larger then the smaller 8’s but just looks so much more slender compared to the 7 point.

 

[Mennoniteman]

So do you think that 8 who I think is 3, just has superior genetics and is actually 3? His body is larger then the smaller 8’s but just looks so much more slender compared to the 7 point.

I'd say that 8 is 3, and 7 is 4. Your original thinking is probably very close to right.
We had a buck with a large block body that looked just like your 7, and we thought that he's 4.5 in the fall. So we put him on the shooter list, but after we tagged and aged him he was only 3.5. Had we known that, we'd have let him grow another year. I believe that 7's antlers have a lot potential to have a big growth spurt next year if you let him go.

 

[don]

I think you are spot on with your aging. Without looking at your estimates I judged each to be the same age as you.