I have tried to really learn what a mature buck looks like in the areas I hunt. We have done well over the last couple of years with shooting some older bucks and lots of does. I go more on body mass and antler mass then just about anything else. Usually in the heat of the moment you may have only seconds to decide rather you shoot or you don’t. My kids have really started to pick up on letting smaller bucks walk and shooting does for meat. Both of these were estimated at 4.5 from western Oklahoma. I feel confident in the wide 7 my son killed as I have pictures of him for the last three years. The 8 my daughter killed is not one I have history on but body wise and antler mass I estimate him to be 3.5 - 4.5. I guess I should start pulling some jaw bones to see how close I am at guessing their age class.Since I can't see their teeth before I pull the trigger, I've worked really hard over the last few years to learn everything I can about aging on the hoof. Seeing the same bucks two or three years in a row on cam has really helped. That said, the buck I shot this year, lived between my two cams all year or maybe even longer. If it hadn't been for his rack, I wouldn't have looked at that buck's body twice. Short body, not much chest mass in front of the front legs, stomach and back said 3.5yo all day. Taxidermist aged him at 4.5yo, very small body.
I would guess top buck is 2 1/2 & second buck was 3 1/2, based on working check stations 30 years agoI have tried to really learn what a mature buck looks like in the areas I hunt. We have done well over the last couple of years with shooting some older bucks and lots of does. I go more on body mass and antler mass then just about anything else. Usually in the heat of the moment you may have only seconds to decide rather you shoot or you don’t. My kids have really started to pick up on letting smaller bucks walk and shooting does for meat. Both of these were estimated at 4.5 from western Oklahoma. I feel confident in the wide 7 my son killed as I have pictures of him for the last three years. The 8 my daughter killed is not one I have history on but body wise and antler mass I estimate him to be 3.5 - 4.5. I guess I should start pulling some jaw bones to see how close I am at guessing their age class.
I think the ODW agrees with you. If I remember right I was told they don't put as much importance into tooth aging because of their diet and location.IMO I believe deers teeth would wear differently from diet and location. I can see high desert deer teeth wearing faster from eating more roughage and forbs than one from the midwest eating alfalfa and wheat.
If we’re making guesstimates, I would say your son’s buck is no older than 3.5 (based on what is visible in that one picture), and your daughter’s buck is no less than 4.5 (based on head size and shape).I have tried to really learn what a mature buck looks like in the areas I hunt. We have done well over the last couple of years with shooting some older bucks and lots of does. I go more on body mass and antler mass then just about anything else. Usually in the heat of the moment you may have only seconds to decide rather you shoot or you don’t. My kids have really started to pick up on letting smaller bucks walk and shooting does for meat. Both of these were estimated at 4.5 from western Oklahoma. I feel confident in the wide 7 my son killed as I have pictures of him for the last three years. The 8 my daughter killed is not one I have history on but body wise and antler mass I estimate him to be 3.5 - 4.5. I guess I should start pulling some jaw bones to see how close I am at guessing their age class.
If we’re making guesstimates, I would say your son’s buck is no older than 3.5 (based on what is visible in that one picture), and your daughter’s buck is no less than 4.5 (based on head size and shape).
If we’re making guesstimates, I would say your son’s buck is no older than 3.5 (based on what is visible in that one picture), and your daughter’s buck is no less than 4.5 (based on head size and shape).
I would guess top buck is 2 1/2 & second buck was 3 1/2, based on working check stations 30 years ago
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