Where are you from? 115-120" and age is hard to determine. Location would help some. That's just by glancing. 2.5 or 3.5, I'm on the fence.
If your board you might want to check out this link provided by drenman in another post. http://www.buckscore.com/
Saw this buck "over there". I still think he's at least a 115" gross buck.....and he's a "tweener" for a NC buck. I think he could either go 3.5 or 4.5.
Duke: You need to get out, more....lol. I'm joking with you.....but I've shot a "few" NC 2,5's.....a couple 3.5's and a 4.5yr old. I have NO problems saying that's at LEAST a 3.5yr old buck. None, whatsoever.
That's what I'm trying to understand.. where peeps are coming up with 3 or older. He's got a short face.. long ears compared with head.. straight back.. shoulders and hind quarters are the same size.. neck comes in high to his chest... legs appear longer.. This buck displays NO characteristics of a "quarter horse" shape. So again.. not sure where anyone is seeing 3 and certainly NOT 4 or above.
Both of these bucks (when this photo was taken) were 3yr olds. Both (naturally) NC bucks. They don't grow 'em the same, everywhere. We've got friends in Iowa who laugh at my wife for having to put potting soil out to plant flowers/shrubs. What's in the soils....goes into the deer.
I'm not sure why you bring state location into every conversation Jeff.. but it gets old after a while... Your example (picture) is of late summer time bucks.. means very little is this conversation. However.. even the pic of the (your)buck on the right.. in summer mind you.. has a neck going much lower into the chest cavity.. and smaller ears as compared to facial features.(it appears). Which would be signs of a 3 yr old. So whats your point? Is it YOU don't think a NC buck can go 125" at age 2? Cause if that's your argument.. you couldn't be any further from the truth. Again I ask.... Where do you see 3 yr old or 4 yr old in the original post?? This is a healthy Q.. again I ask.. NOT to prove you wrong.. for you to prove me innacurate at my guess compared to yours. It does not need to be mentioned where this buck came from.. as that has little to do with it.. UNLESS you are trying to age with the help of antlers or inches. I don't use antlers or inches as indications of age. In any state.
I don't look at the antlers, either, for the most part. But, you knew that. I'm basing my "guesstimate" on the deer I've seen here and the deer my friends take and see (gamecam)....again, HERE. You absolutely SCALD people when they talk about IL deer....due to the fact you live and hunt there. I'm just basing my age determination on the SAME fact. In the big picture, this means very little to me. You're entitled to your opinion. I just made mine known (and gave examples). I've NEVER seen a 2.5yr old deer with the type of musculature evidenced in the OP's photo (either from stand; gamecam; or from a friend's kill). I suppose you could be right, though. He could be THE "gold std." NC 2.5yr old. THE.
I don't scald anyone.. and I haven't "scalded" you either. If you have ever thought so.. then you're taking these words written in black and white on a PC.. and taking them personally... whomever you are. I was trying to see why several of our members here thought this buck was 3 or 4 yrs old.. when all his body features are of a 2 yr old. I asked you twice now.. and I still got no response. I'm hoping Greg or Troy or whomever.. will politely teach me something.. cause I don't see it. And you've now posted in this thread 3 times now bringing up location. In an age thread? Why? You just don't get it. HERE.. as you call it.. is NOT the entire state of North Carolina. It's the 500 acres or what have you.. YOU hunt. Location Jeff is the farm YOU hunt.. not the state. I've been repeating this for nearly 5 years now.. some still don't get it. It's not about hunting NC (insert any state) and waiting for a 150 to find you. It's about hunting in NC (insert any state) and finding where to hunt a 150. (this entire post is said with gentle grace.. please do not confuse it with scalding.. or anyone of my previous posts).
3.5 year old. In picture #1, his face definately looks older than a 2.5 year old, plus he has some definition in his neck muscles. (Its only October 9th) In picture #2, I believe his moob makes things a little deceiving and makes his neck look like it starts higher. Also, if he was a 2.5 year old, his neck wouldn't be that size yet. (Remember, its only October 9th) His front shoulders and belly also look too big to be a 2.5 year old. Yep, he's a 3.5 year old.....but no older.
