Is this buck mature?

[readonly]

I know can be tough to age in summertime. Every year for the last 4 years I have gotten pics of a buck with undersized, slightly deformed rack, that appears mature. First year appeared to have a wound recovering from. But rack not exactly the same. This pic is from this summer. Does it appear to be a mature buck? I think it is, and will take it if I get the chance. But I am not completely certain so I ask for input.

 

[readonly]

Here's a couple of pics from last year and three years ago showing similar buck/s:

 

[willy]

I like playing these guessing games. I think the top buck is 3 and the lower one that shows whole body is 2 but I'm no expert but like to guestimate.

 

[Deadeye]

Define what is Mature to you. Seriously.

In some parts of the Country a 2 yr old is considered a Mature Buck while in others it would take a 5-6 yr old to claim the same status.

IMO, the 1st Buck is in the 3 yr old range. No drop of the belly yet and his neck is just starting to fill out.
The 2nd pic I'd agree with in the 2 yr old range. Small neck, belly just starting to fill out.
3rd pic is not enough to guess.

 

[suburbhunter]

Define what is Mature to you. Seriously.

In some parts of the Country a 2 yr old is considered a Mature Buck while in others it would take a 5-6 yr old to claim the same status.

IMO, the 1st Buck is in the 3 yr old range. No drop of the belly yet and his neck is just starting to fill out.
The 2nd pic I'd agree with in the 2 yr old range. Small neck, belly just starting to fill out.
3rd pic is not enough to guess.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This. Especially the first sentence.

 

[readonly]

Good question....I guess by mature I mean 4 plus. I would be shocked if this years buck is less than 3. I know that it is very difficult to age by summer pic.

Second buck I am pretty sure is 3 year old. I had pics of him all fall and those pics show a very large body and full neck. He did survive the season as I had pics of him after the season.

Bottom pic is also at least 3 as I saw him and had full body pics. Passed him on the ML opener. That's the best pic of the antlers I had. Suspicious as to whether he's the same buck as the top pic.

 

[Drycreek]

Better pics if someone wants to guess again but I’m thinking y’all are spot on.

 

[dogghr]

Also location is required. A yearling in Saskatchewan looks like a 3 yo in the eastern US. I agree, upper pic is 2 maybe 3 yo probably at least for what one would look in my area. But you said it, can't be done properly with a summer pic.

 

[readonly]

Virginia buck.

 

[readonly]

Comparing to the first pic in the thread from last year, appears to be the same buck in the same place

 

[Deadeye]

Rack looks very similar with the High G2 on the Rt Side and Normal on the left.

Can't see enough of the Body to judge on the 2nd pic.

So many things change each year that effect Deer Size:

How Hard was the Winter in your area?
Are you Certain it's that Same Buck or an Offspring with Similar Rack Style?
Your Pics shows it's the SAME YEAR taken about a minute apart, so Probably the Same Deer taken Twice.


What it really comes down to is this: Does it seem Mature to YOU? If Yes then Shoot it. If No then try to give it another Year but know this-- It is almost Impossible to ensure that a Deer you Pass will live until the next year unless you are on a property that has Several Hundred to Thousand Acres OR is behind a High Fence. You simply can not keep a deer on your Property long enough to have them grow to TV Size unless several Factors are in place: Cover-Food-Sex (Does)- Safety (the feeling of not being Pressured).

IMO One of the Worse Things to ever Happen to Deer Hunting was the Popularity of these so-called Hunting Shows. Most are filmed at Prime Locations under Strict Management that offer Year after Year of Trophy Class Bucks due to Food and Genes and TIME. Joe Average Hunter is Never going to have given that Most Hunting Places are 40-200 Acres in Size and you simply can not control everything your Neighbors Do UNLESS you all have spoken with each other and formulated a Plan to Pass on Younger Class Bucks for at least 5 years.

So, Take what Makes you Happy and enjoy the Process. If a deer seems to have at least a "mature nature" and that is what you are looking for, take him and be happy. If you Truly Only Want to shoot Mature Deer, then wait until their Bellies have Dropped 8-10" and their Necks have grown into their Belly Line. If you are willing to wait 4-5 Years in most areas of the Country your Deer will reach this point, but you Must Accept the Fact that Some will never reach that point due to being killed on Neighboring Properties, Hit on the Highway, or some that Just Up & Leave.

Once again: Make You Happy. That is the Key to all Hunting Success. If you do that the Deer you take will never be wrong.

 

[Deadeye]

Here are some pics taken in the same location with the same cam. Maybe they can help you judge your deer. But remember this is in Florida and your Virginia Deer are a different Sub-Species and tend to be larger and thicker.

It is easy to tell which deer is mature and which is young.

The really mature ones are always easy to tell. The borderline ones are the tricky ones.

I’d say the first pic that deer is young, 1 1/2.

2nd pic that deer has put on some weight, probably a 2 1/2-3 yr old.

3rd deer notice how his belly next to his hind leg is starting to drop lower that the deer above. This deer to me is about a 3 1/2-4 yr old.

Last pic, while very close, you can see how the muscle mass has thickened. His neck has also grown thick. This is the One and Only pic I have of this deer and it was taken during the Rut Period at our place. I’d say this deer is a 4-5 year old.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[readonly]

Hello Deadeye....thank you for your observations. The 2 pics from this year are definitely the same deer moments apart....and I think and believe it's the same buck as the very top photo in the tread from the same place last year. It is very difficult to age this time of year. I don't have a lot of trail cam pics yet. For the last month or so we have had a bachelor group of 6-8 coming up to the orchard in our front yard, and this buck is one of them. Although I can't tell how old he is this year, he is definitely not 2 or younger. If the same buck as last year I would wage 4 +. Never saw or got photos after the season started.

 

[Deadeye]

Hello Deadeye....thank you for your observations. The 2 pics from this year are definitely the same deer moments apart....and I think and believe it's the same buck as the very top photo in the tread from the same place last year. It is very difficult to age this time of year. I don't have a lot of trail cam pics yet. For the last month or so we have had a bachelor group of 6-8 coming up to the orchard in our front yard, and this buck is one of them. Although I can't tell how old he is this year, he is definitely not 2 or younger. If the same buck as last year I would wage 4 +. Never saw or got photos after the season started.

Ahh I see now, My Mistake.

That is a Tough Call. Yes the Racks look near Identical IMO, however there are no Ribs showing in the last years Pic and there definitely are in this years. That could mean it's the same Buck in a slightly different angle or could also be his Offspring.

Since you say you have seen and have history with the Buck, then really you are the best Judge.

 

[Mennoniteman]

He looks a bit undernourished, do you have good food sources? I see a lot of grass in the pictures.

 

[readonly]

I think it's just the pic. Plenty of rain this year, mild winter. They sit up by yard and eat apples and peaches every day. The white oaks look to be loaded so should be plenty of food this fall. This guy clearly filled out more in the shoulders than the 2 year olds, that doesn't come through in this pic either.