This whitetail buck looks pretty good, but any idea on age? Learning to age bucks on the hoof is something anyone can learn to do. It does take time, and works best when tested with real-life field experience.
Aging this 8 Pointer
The very first thing I noticed about this buck, even before I took a peek at the antlers, was how deep the body on this deer looks. Using context from the photo, we can tell that it is either just before or very early into hunting season. Lots of green grass and the trees, which look to be mesquites, are still holding their leaves.
The neck on this buck comes in fairly low on the front end, but not overly. The deer is obviously in good body condition as it carries mass from the front end to the back end.
The buck also has good basal circumference on his antlers, another tell-tale sign that this deer is not a young buck. All of these physical features in combination make me feel confident this deer is at least 4 1/2 years of age. He could even be a year older, but I do not think he’s any older than that.
From a whitetail management standpoint, this is the type of buck that is often called a management buck; he’s at least 4 1/2 years old but only sports 8 points. A good buck, but for those aiming to improvement their herd he would be one to consider shooting this season. Of course, it all depends on the goals and objectives for a particular property.
l shot a 4 year old buck this year. That deer has the wrong neck size and wrong body weight still on hind side to be 4 1 half or older. At 5 weight shift is noticed first loaded up to his shoulders neck and a sag belly starting… at six even bigger with back bend