This whitetail buck calls Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, home, according to the hunter that submitted the photo. The date on the photo is correct, so this deer is still sneaking around in mid-November. The hunter says that the primary rut takes place in about a month, during mid-December. Age?
Let’ Take a Stab at This Buck
Well, it almost goes without saying that this is not the best photo angle for aging deer on the hoof, but I’ll say it say it anyway. Though there are several things that we cannot tell from the photo, there are at least a couple of things that give us clues about this deer.
First, the first clue about the age of this buck starts with what appears to be a bit of a belly. Bucks don’t usually start putting on a significant belly until about 5 years of age. This second clue goes hand-in-hand with the first, as the legs on this buck look just a wee bit short.
Putting these two pieces of information together makes me think that this buck is at least 5 1/2 years old. Now, this dude could be 6 1/2 years of age, but I just can’t say for sure. Either way, he’s old enough for me. You?