Hey, I'm a 25 year gun hunter who just took up bowhunting last year. Last year I also developed a relationship with the owners of 130 acres in Western NY state. They are wonderful tree-huggers who realized that deer were eating their trees. So I took up bowhunting. I just joined this site today. I met the owner of the adjoining property who told me that her husband and his buddies "won't shoot a doe but will shoot anything with horns." I have a few cameras on the property and finally got some good pictures (after several blurry ones) of by far the best buck I've seen there. While I'd like to try to shoot the best deer there, I'm somewhat torn over this deer. I can't tell how old he is. Frankly, if he's just 2 1/2 I think I'd take my chances with the neighbors and see what he can produce next year. But if he's older, maybe this is the year to try to take him before the neighbor does? He is a wide (well outside his ears) 10 pt with short tines. I don't see a pot-belly or sway back. Everything else I've seen is a spike, a rag-horn 6, or the like. I'd appreciate any guidance. Thank you.
My initial guess would be 2 1/2, possibly 3 1/2. Something just says young with him. Good potential if so
I have watched some youtube vids that I think help a little (not that Im good at ageing because of them). But they are worth watching. They say to look at the shape of the head.. look at the neck and the flanks. You may want to check them out. That being said, my GUESS would be 3.5...
3.5 year old. And I would try and work with the neighbors to maybe take some does and let a couple smaller bucks walk. Can't hurt to try and work a co-op. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'd say 3. That's a tough one. If the neighbor is shooting anything with antlers, then I'd honestly shoot him if he's the best one you've seen. I'd try to work with the neighbors but know how hard headed they can be sometimes. Good luck man “In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.” -Theodore Roosevelt
If it was in the midwest, you'd have a nice 2,5yo on your hands, give him another 2-3 years and he'll be a monster! But with him being in NY he could be 3.5. I don't know a lot about the difference of deer up there.
i'm saying 3.5. His shoulders are still a little high and don't blend into his neck. His belly doesn't sag. It tucks up under (like a racehorse). Those are usually my gauge.
I'm goin 2 1/2 on him . Posture and the belly on him tells me he's no 3 1/2. Nice deer regardless tho. Good luck!
