How reliable is aging by body size?

I was going through some of my trail cam pics today, and I happened to notice a couple photos of one particular buck (Buster). I have two photos of him that are less than 2 months apart and I feel that if I had posted them separately, I would have received age estimates that 2, 3 or more years apart.

Here's the comparison. One is from 6-24, the other 8-20 (2012).




Now, I'm as guilty as the next guy for posting up age this deer threads, but this sequence just furthers my doubts that anyone can, in a photo or two, accurately age a buck.

What do you think?

For the record, in these photos, I'm pretty sure he's 3. I have many more photos from 2011, 12 & 13 that I base that off of.

 

I think you can "ballpark" but even the biologically accepted tooth wear method is dependent on food type/soil type/observer bias. The only way to be certain how old a deer is is to find a way of marking it at birth. I honestly get a kick out of the age this deer threads because there are opinions ranging both ways. Sure I think you can say mature/immature with certainty but that's about it

 

Yeah, if they are accurate, 98% of the deer running around the country are 3.5 yo

 

That's shocking. It's the same deer due to the ear rip. Always more difficult with a summer coat tho.

 

Would aging during the same time of year be more accurate? Those few months made a difference.

 

I rough score in 30 seconds and that makes my decision. If He scores well Idc if he is 3.5 or 6.5 yo.

 

I laugh when guys think they can actually age deer on the hoof accurately. 1 and 2 year olds, no problem. 3 year olds, some. Over 4, I would guess guys are wrong 60% of the time and of the other 40% that get it right, half of them are just lucky.

Here's a few of my favorite sayings:
Racehorse body
Roman Nose
Sway Back
Barrel Shape
Crowned Nose

FTR, I would say the buck in your pics is more than 3 Mike. But, its just a guess......like every one else's.

 

I said 3 because I think he was 2 in these photos from the previous year.

 

It is hard to tell for sure. Obviously from your photos it makes a huge difference what time of the year it is and what part of the country you are talking about.

 

I agree. I like to be able to "guess" on the hoof. But many of the things you mentioned, while not scientifically or biologically consistent in all cases, are at least a good starting point. I would never guess an age of a deer on the hood and expect to be dead on every time.

 

I think he's at least 5 and looks 3+ to me in the old pics...
Obviously I think a deer can be aged on the hoof with relative accuracy....not every time and not by just anyone but it's very possible IMHO.

 

Agreed with others that aging only works for the first few years of life. Once they hit mature, unless you have a history and KNOW the age of the buck.... It's just a guess no matter what anyone says.

 

Charles Alsheimer would disagree with you. In his article "Aging Bucks on the Hoof" from around 2008 he states that its almost impossible to age a deer on the hoof after 3.5-4.5 years old. Even by the "experts." Its just all just a guess after that age, unless you have a serious history with the buck.

 

Is this the same "expert" who just predicted the "trickle rut" in DDH recently based on moon phase? If so, he claims the peak rut days will be 11/15 and 11/22! He also boldly predicted deer will breed from 10-20 thru 11-28! No Sh#t. I thought this article came from the Onion on first read.

 

There's a big difference between something physical, like a deer body, than voodoo of moon phases affecting the rut.

 

I've posted this deer in the past, but how old would you say it is?

 

O MY GOSH!! what are you feeding them up their!?!?! lolol

 

I'd also argue that it's difficult to accurately judge age on any deer............even younger deer. Obviously if it's a 150" 200lb dressed deer it's not a year old, but the difference in the first three years can be substantial based on many factors including food, genetics, etc.

I've watched a handful of bucks that are darn near tame grow up from button buck age to 4-5 years old at my inlaws over the past several years. Several of them never looked like they were more than 2 years old even know we absolutely knew they were 5+ years old. The buck pictured below was 5.5 years old in the picture taken as a perfect example, we knew him from a button buck and his mom is still alive at 10+ years old today. I'd bet most would guess him at 2 years old based on his body. As a 2 year old he was a three point with no main beam, just an ears high spike on one side and a spork on the other and he maybe weighed 90lbs dressed. I'm guessing in the pics below he would have dressed out at around 135-140lbs at most and had a 90" rack.

 

Summer is tuff but 4.5-5.5 yo. Great genes.

 

Where's the sway back!?!?!?!