2024 Deer hunting thread

[gim]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve only aged them by the teeth

Thats probably the surest way to do it. Like counting the rings on a tree truck, sort of.

 

Generally speaking a buck will have peak antler size somewhere between 4.5 and 6.5 years of age. Lot of variables to consider such as diet, climate, predators (both natural and artificial), and competition from other bucks.

 

One thing is for certain. They don’t usually walk around in broad daylight during hunting season otherwise every hunter would fill their tag with a trophy each season.

[12poundbass]

3 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Here’s a question, one of my buddies said there’s a way to tell if a buck is mature, has something to do with a crease on the nose or the nose shape?  I’ve never heard of that

That picture it’s really hard to tell. The sure way to tell is to check their teeth which isn’t possible. Going back to the picture, if there was a side profile picture you can narrow it down to within a couple years. 
 

One thing, the bigger the white patch on the front of the neck the older the deer. The snout, the older the deer the wider the snout. Another, the belly, just like us, the older the deer, the more the mid section will sag. Everyone looks at the antlers. The bigger the antlers the older the deer. While antler size and age plays a factor so does genetics. You can have a big antlered deer that is young and /or old. The hard core deer hunters can look at a big rack deer and see its young and has another year or two to grow and pass on it so it can grow. These guys have hundred or thousands of acres and know this deer isn’t leaving the property, where as us typical hunters know he could potentially leave the property and potentially get taken by the person next door.

[fishballer06]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:00 PM, TOXIC said:

Here’s a question, one of my buddies said there’s a way to tell if a buck is mature, has something to do with a crease on the nose or the nose shape?  I’ve never heard of that.  

Never heard of anything going by the nose/face. The easiest way to judge the body is by looking at where the neck meets the brisket, the "dip" in the back, and the belly. Beyond that, having the teeth done by a biologist is the only scientific way. 

 

The photo you posted doesn't really show any of those, but going by antler size that deer is either 3.5 or 4.5 years old. Definitely one that someone would be proud of. 

[casts_by_fly]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:00 PM, TOXIC said:

😆😉She knows where he lives and it’s not hunted.  I’m not that much of a deer hunter, I more often went upland bird route.  Pheasant, quail, chucker.  Here’s a question, one of my buddies said there’s a way to tell if a buck is mature, has something to do with a crease on the nose or the nose shape?  I’ve never heard of that.  

 

So what I think your buddy is referring to is what some call the 'roman nose' on a deer.  As they age, the skull gets just a little wider and the slope from the antler plate down to the nose is less defined.  On a young deer there is the nose, and then up by the eyes there is a noticable 'hump'.  In the first picture below (from maine F&W site) it is noticable on the 1.5YO (the other two don't have great angles).  As the deer ages, the head gets wider, but not much longer.  The face and head fill in and all of the curves smooth out a bit.  The second picture below is a good side profile example (picture borrowed from louisana sportsman site).  The head just looks 'thick'.  Its a straight slope from the antler plate to the nose and the nose just looks shorter.  

 

That said, it is just indicative.  You're not going to take his measurements in the field and know that he's X years old.  White and great patches on the muzzle and around the eyes are similar.  Saggy bellies and backs indicate age.  Thicker antler bases indicate age for a given region/locale.  If you look at just the body of a buck and it looks like a big doe, then you're probably looking at a 2.5 year old deer or younger.  When they hit 3.5 its like a lightswitch got hit and their bodies change a lot.

 

 

[fishballer06]

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

That said, it is just indicative.  You're not going to take his measurements in the field and know that he's X years old.  White and great patches on the muzzle and around the eyes are similar.  Saggy bellies and backs indicate age.  Thicker antler bases indicate age for a given region/locale.  If you look at just the body of a buck and it looks like a big doe, then you're probably looking at a 2.5 year old deer or younger.  When they hit 3.5 its like a lightswitch got hit and their bodies change a lot.

 

 

 

 

Great post and photo there of the age classes. As you can see in the 2.5 and 3.5 photos.. Where the neck meets the brisket goes from being defined to looking bulky and kind of like loose hide. You can also see the sag in the belly (aka Dad Bod). 

 

The muscle mass on the shoulders and hind legs grows significantly as well. 

[casts_by_fly]

Just now, fishballer06 said:

The muscle mass on the shoulders and hind legs grows significantly as well. 

 

Until it doesn't and things just look a little 'past their best'.  Then you know you've got a really old one.

[TnRiver46]

On 1/25/2025 at 12:07 AM, 12poundbass said:

That picture it’s really hard to tell. The sure way to tell is to check their teeth which isn’t possible. Going back to the picture, if there was a side profile picture you can narrow it down to within a couple years. 
 

One thing, the bigger the white patch on the front of the neck the older the deer. The snout, the older the deer the wider the snout. Another, the belly, just like us, the older the deer, the more the mid section will sag. Everyone looks at the antlers. The bigger the antlers the older the deer. While antler size and age plays a factor so does genetics. You can have a big antlered deer that is young and /or old. The hard core deer hunters can look at a big rack deer and see its young and has another year or two to grow and pass on it so it can grow. These guys have hundred or thousands of acres and know this deer isn’t leaving the property, where as us typical hunters know he could potentially leave the property and potentially get taken by the person next door.

Or taken by the dump truck on the highway 

 

I used to pester the professors in college that always ended their deer years in .5, they can’t all be right at .5 all year long……….. I know, I know, it’s because they are always referring to hunting season but we had to go to class all throughout the year and no matter what the calendar said, every deer was 0.5,1.5, 2.5, 3.5 etc, regardless off class being in August, December, or April 😂 

[12poundbass]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

professors in college

There lies your problem! 😂

 

They have a piece of paper, therefore you need to listen to them. 
 

Small rant over!