Just a quick round of venting for me. It seems lately to me, that if you were to show the vast majority of hunters a photo of a mature deer, they automatically say its 3.5 years old (sorry for using the 1/2 Vito). I also know a guy who has a shop in southern MN that was implying that the 10 year old doe that was shot down there with CWD had to have been a farm raised deer that was released because "there's no way a deer is going to get that old in the wild" ... are you kidding me? Hunting pressure or not, if there's one place on the face of the earth where deer could live in to double digits regularly, it's the Midwest. So what is this fascination with 3.5? Have we been influenced by TV hunters? Or is there some book out there that explains how all the 3.5 year olds get harvested, so there's a new batch for the next year?
I think 3.5 is the magic age for "mature". I see a big difference between a 2.5 year old buck and a 3.5+ year old. Seems like a different species almost with the huge body and usually bigger, heavier antlers. I killed a giant with my shotgun this year and I wish I knew how old he was. Teeth worn to the gums. Guessed him around 6.5 to 8.5.
I think your wrong. In the last 6 years of bowhunting, ive got to know dozens of bucks on my farm. The amount that survive to the next year is dismal. Deer just dont live that long with hunting/car pressure.
I agree on the 2.5-3.5 difference, it's like comparing a 18 yo kid to a 30 yo. But I don't assume that all the mature hunters on here are 30. Even in corn country deer's teeth can easily last 10-12 years. I think I'm going to start saving all lower jaws from the my deer so I can get them aged.
I have noticed this too and in fact was guilty of it this year. I really thought mine was a 3.5 yr old deer. Chest was filled out nicely still had a pretty tight stomach but was loosening up a bit and When we weighed him he was right at 185lb field dressed which is bigger than most 2.5 yr old deer are around here. I don't know how to judge by teeth so I didn't look. Just was talking to the taxidermist about my euro mount the other day and he told me that by teeth he was a 2.5 yr old. My mistake but I think with 2.5-3.5 yr old deer its an easy one to make especially for novices like me. And deer are probably like anything thing else. Some develop a touch faster or slower than others. Also, think a lot of people go by rack size alone. I know where I hunt you can't go off that for crap. We have old 6 point basket racks and young 8,9,10 running around that going to be monsters (in my book anyway) if they hang around and don't get killed. Just the other day I saw a 8pt basket that had to have been a 6-8 yr old deer. Just a monstrous body with a lot of sag big ol swelled neck and huge chest. Legs looked about foot short for his body. In short a lot of it is inexperience, some is tv conditioning and some is just people being dumb. Just like anything else its a combo of everything.
How big is your farm? When are you getting photos of these bucks? There are many more reasons for you not to see the same bucks on a property for consecutive years than they got killed. Dispersal, both at yearling age and when they fisrt mature. Presure. And, they just plain get smarter...
2.5 year old dressed at 185#? That would be one hell of a 2 year old buck. One mistake I think a lot of people make is having a lot of faith in their taxidermist and thinking they are experts on deer.....just because they mount them. In my experience, the last person I would trust to age a deer for me is the taxidermists I know.
I understand that, but my farm is 100 acres, and i have access to 200 more that adjoining. Thats 300 acres that i have multiple trail cameras on 24/7/365. Not to mention i know pretty much EVERYONE who hunts in and around my area (small town, population 2000). I agree there our exceptions, but i hear about 90% of the bucks that get killed. That being said i know of a buck that is at least 6.5 but most likely 7.5 years old this year. He lives primarily on one of the sanctuary non hunt-able farms in the area though.
That exact buck gets an arrow from me no matter antler size...that my friend is trophy...a stud....a beast....you get my point. I remember missing my chance at a buck like this about 4 years back when I didn't think out stand placement and shooting lanes as well. Needless to say he stood broadside for ten minutes almost to my right....right through a huge thick spot in the tree I'm in. Needless to say I find out later some guy shoots this old brute, and pitches the rack...just because it wasn't "big"....the thing needed to be remember atleast from a Euro mount and THING HAD DARK CHOCOLATE LIKE ANTLERS!!! That is one of those deer I'll forever have engrained into my mind and didn't get!
Not to start a weight thread, because I believe that is overblown more than ages and inches...but I'd say most 2.5's in my are would push that figure...again though it's all in location.
To me 3.5 is where you usually begin to see subtle changes in the body of the deer. I never look at the rack when thinking about the age of a deer. I usually look at the belly, neck, brisket, legs, and face if I can see it. However I will say that once a deer is 5.5 I think it's very difficult to accurately age him. My brother in law, who is a taxidermist, has a big ring with jawbone casts of different aged deer. It is very helpful. Blessings.......Pastorjim
Dressed? I find that extremely hard to believe.......extremely. See, I lived, guided and hunted in an area that has some of the biggest bodied whitetails on the planet.....NW Ontario. Even up there, a 185# DRESSED buck would be an anomaly. Live, sure....dressed, not so much. Just like guys who overestimate their buck's score, there are those that overestimate the weight....a majority of the time. Just like a tape, scales don't lie.....but people don't like using them for fear of finding out the truth.
Would have but I have already tagged out on bucks for the year. We only get 1 here in KS. So I'm just doe hunting now. He put on a good show though. I grunted him in while playing with a little 3 point. He came in thrashing then proceeded to kick the 3pts ass for him. I about fell out of the stand laughing. I owe that 3 pt an apology though. Around where I am at I would say most 2 yr olds are around the 150-160 mark. 185 is big but I don't think its out of the realm of possibility for a 2 yr old. I don't disagree that he could be wrong.
That was on scales. My jaw about hit the floor when I saw that. Like you said earlier the taxi could be wrong. I'll have to look at it closer and do some research when I get it back.
Louie shot a 2.5 year old buck out were we hunt that weighed either 190 or 180 dressed. I weighed it so I should remember... (getting old sucks..) but anyhow, it was a big and yet immature deer. Our does get rather huge too so it's really not surprising. The deer density is kept low here so that helps.
Louie's 2.5 year old buck. All I have are these pictures... so you just have to trust me on this.. but I have no reason to lie about it.
Sorry I read right over the dressed part...Dan you'd be right on this one and I 100% agree with you yet again!
Christine, what tells you that deer is 2.5? The rack? And I can't trust you. You have this crush on me and even the restraining order can't keep you away. What would K-12 say if he knew you were after me again?
His jawbone. It had almost no wear and the rear most cusp was still pointy. I aged it as well as the park manager. (and I aced my deer aging in college so there... neener, neener!!!)
How old do you think this doe is? Look her butt was almost bigger than mine. (ha.. well, she had a big butt) This doe hadn't even made it to the .5 of 1.5. She still hadn't even shed her milk teeth. We have some pretty good genetics and the low deer density makes a difference.
