age this deer.

[Cody Gruchow]

your hunting on leased land but as part of the lease you agree to only shoot 3 1/2 year old and older deer. this big boy comes out at 80 yards during gun season. is he old enough?

[Outdoors Junkie]

Heck ya!

                  

[deadeye]

Oh, yes. 

[Moving2thecountry]

I don't know.  I would have never signed the lease, though.  I'd rather go by points or something that is more tangible than guessing a deer's age.  Looks like a keeper to me, though.

[Cody Gruchow]

well you have to respect the landowners wish. if he says no younger than 3 1/2 that means many things A.) dont shoot young deer B.) that means you have a better shot at a trophy such as this one.

i know the age of this deer and its suprising. but you guys are close.

[Moving2thecountry]

I agree, but I don't yet know how to age deer.  Looks like it could be 3.25 years old.

[Cody Gruchow]

well look at its muzzle(for grey). how its head is shaped.(young deer there heads look like a calf head) older deer will generally have a bigger belly(pot belly) and there skin hangs more around the neck also. dont ever judge a deers age by its antlers because it can be very deceiving


this is a 3 year old deer.

[guythathunts]

I would shoot it. That is the kind of deer you are supposed to shoot. I am sure the land owner would agree. I am not a great judge of age, but that is a shooter buck in every group I know.

[Go Big Red!]

I look at the belly first with bucks.  This one doesn't seem old enough based on "lease" agreement but I would hammer.

[Joe]

It's tough to tell from this one still photo, but I'd say you'd have to wait until next year. I'd sure like to see whats considered a shooter because I'd never pass on a deer like this.

[Jdrummer]

His neck looks like he is full of rut . I don't see much droop under the eyes or a sag in his back. I would say he is only 3 possibility a 3.5 but he has good genes for horn but might be a northern deer and only eats pine cones. 

[Mayfly]

Its a good deer. To be honest from that pic I give it 3 1/2  no problem...

[Ryan]

That deer would be impossible to pass on, but I am guessing it is not old enough.

[22lex]

I've seen 3 year old 8 and 10 pointers, but never with the tine length as this one.

I would say shoot it. Just because if there is a 3 year old deer with this genetic ability it's behind a fence and you've paid for the right to shoot it.

[Outdoors Junkie]

If this picture was from Oct-Nov... it would be 3 1/2.  Since most deer are born April, May-June.  Otherwise the deer would be 2 1/2 and he is much too big for that.

So you should be safe to harvest under agreement with land owner.   

[dakids]

Cody does this deer live inside a fence?  If he does then he is 2.5.

[Cody Gruchow]

nope free ranging...

[bowhunter73]

Is this a photo shop??

In the wild…. he is to big to only be 2 1/2 not yet big enough for 5 1/2 so he is somewhere in the 3-4 range.. Kill him.

[Cody Gruchow]

no not photoshopped.

i would drop the hammer on him

[guythathunts]

I don't think a hammer would kill him if you just drooped it on him. I would use a gun or bow.

[Cody Gruchow]

the hammer is to get him out from under my stand and then ill shoot him with the slug gun