Here are two deer on my main hunting property. I have been hunting there for five seasons and have a pretty good idea on the age of these two. The smaller one gave me a shot last year but I passed on him. The larger deer was a 10 with a broken G-4 and was passed on several times last year. Here they are so guess the age.
I'm not good at this but I'll guess 4.5 or 3.5. They don't look really old. The nose area seems narrow, and the bodies are still pretty buff and not drooping
The one in the front is actually a year or two older than the one in the back. The one in the front was shot by another guy that hunts the property a few times a year and that was back in October 2006, he was a 10 point then and looked to be 3.5 years old. The one in the back was a 3.5 last year.
Hard to tell from those two photos, but the near buck looks a little older to me. You usually don't start seeing those really long beams until 4 1/2+. He's got really strong G3's as well. I'd wager he's the older of the two, but this time of year with limited photos (from the back) it's hard to say. My guess is he's a 4 year old and the back guy is a nice solid 3 year old.
Regardless of whether he's 4 or 5, he's a shooter in my book. When you start seeing those beams peak out in front of their nose you've usually got a really nice buck on your hands. Hopefully someone puts him on the ground this fall so we can put a tape to him. I'm guessing in the high 140's, might even break the 150 mark.
We'll do our best, I have October 1-4th off and that's my best shot with this guy so hopefully I'll get him. I have an broadhead to return when I do.
