Need Help---To Shoot or Not to Shoot

[bboswell]

I"m not so sure... look at his head and neck. the skin is tight throughout his neck. His head doesn't look "short" like an older deer. the area where his head meets his neck is not filled out. that head and that neck looks identical to a 4.5 year old deer on my lease, and another place I hunt.

Still photos are nearly impossible to get a solid age off of, but I don't see that as a slam dunk old deer.

x2

[ShaBow]

Hes old maxed out and taking nourishment from growing deer whats the problem shoooooot!

[Rudyl]

Yes I did Warrior62

[cmeadors]

shoot,. that bucks past his prime.Looks like hes going downhill. His g 1's and super small. But that's very respectful to the land owner not to take a uncomfortable shot. Hats off. cool post

[bowhuntntxn]

Surely there is a better example for a slam dunk cull buck on the ranch. And also a trophy. One deer will not make or break your management plan, and let this guy die of old age if he is that concerned with the trophy title on this deer. I would shoot him and be proud of it either way.

[Shane]

Sway back. Big Roman nose. Bottom jaw looks small - possibly due to worn teeth allowing the bottom jaw to go farther up to meet the top jaw. Could be why his body looks so malnourished compared to his head? Loose skin under the jaw....

Looks old to me.

I might not call him a cull if he's old. He has genes for lots of points. Maybe he had more tine length a couple years ago? If not, then cull. But if he's going downhill, let him try to breed another doe or two.

[Rudyl]

Here are some trail cam pics of some of the young deer that he's competing with, in that same section of the ranch.

[lameduck]

Old deer,horns going down hill.

[El Coyote]

id say end of year shooter if he can wait that long...that a split brow on his right side?

[cosmiccowboy]

I'd show the owner the pictures and ask him. In this case his is the only opinion that matters.

[cksweat678]

just look at the 2 pics and you can def. see the sway in the first ones back.. i'd def take him...

[Deathrow Jethro]

Doesn't look like he is going to gain anymore tine length... Which is one of your criteria for a trophy... I'd say take him out of the gene pool...

[bow-man]

That deer is a perfect example of a management buck, shoot it! That deer is way past his prime

[Tommyh]

even if hes going downhill and past his prime, with that amount of point, hopefully he will reproduce during the rut, and take him afterwards.

[pigstikr]

I'd say shoot, looks to me he has all he is ever gonna have.