Age and potential

[Bazo]

I had a new buck show up this morning and I’m curious on thought of his age and potential.

he looks like a 3 or maybe 4yo that wants to be a slick 12 next year. Hopefully he’s not older by much.

[Walker]

I've got him at 4.5. Starting to fill out up front.

[Gumbo Man]

Could go either way but I’m going with 3 1/2. He looks leggy with plenty of growing left.

[M16]

Hard to tell from those pics but at least 4.5 to me.

[PondPopper]

Body looks 4 but his head looks older. Probably 5.

[Big pig]

Beautiful buck. Gonna have lots of points, but not real wide or tall. Not sure of the nutrition he had, but maybe with a wet year he takes a big leap at 5.5.

he would never survive the season around here.

BP

[txtimetravler]

Middle aged

if you think he has potential, let him walk. Put out some protein and see if you can hold him.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Nice middle aged buck. With age and proper nutrition, he could grow into something special indeed. He has a nicely shaped rack. If he had the opportunity to become a protein hog, he most certainly could blow up... and he could also just stay the same, but the upside potential is good with this one... He'd get a pass on our place.

[Fishndude]

Looks 3 to me

[M16]

Looks 3 to me

That’s certainly possible. I hate aging off of game camera pictures or any pictures for that matter. You just can’t beat seeing them live. His front end looks deeper than his rear end which is usually indicative of a 4.5 to me.

[SaltwaterSlick]

That’s certainly possible. I hate aging off of game camera pictures or any pictures for that matter. You just can’t beat seeing them live. His front end looks deeper than his rear end which is usually indicative of a 4.5 to me.

Agreed! Though it is pretty obvious this is NOT a young or yearling deer. AND he does not have the characteristics of a mature deer either... Pretty safe to call him "middle aged" and feel it is accurate... (to me middle aged is 3-6 years old)...
And judging his "potential" is a crap shoot too, but giving him "age" will certainly allow him to reach that potential... supplemental feeding could up his potential too, maybe even up it greatly... though even that is no guarantee as to what he might grow into...
Fun doing the evaluations though and discussing it...

[LouietheLurker]

3.5

[Bazo]

He’s going to the no shoot list. Hopefully he sticks around.

this feed pen has corn, protein and alfalfa. There’s also a water tank about 60 yards away as well.

[Gumbo Man]

Good call.

[brokeno]

5 If it’s the first time you’ve seen him it will probably be the last time too. Probably just cruising through looking for a hot doe.