Old enough??

[RobinHood]

After seeing nothing but does from my feeder cam, my expectations were shooting a doe opening weekend. Went and pulled my card today and finally saw horns. This year is nothing like last year as then I had 2 good 10's and 2 good 8's to keep my hopes high. How old yall think he is? Keep in mind that this is on our 40 acre place down the road. Neighbors hunt, but not as serious as I do.
Age?

[bsills]

3.5

[aironeout]

Considering the country (Yaupon) I'm gonna say 3.5. Nice deer.
>E

[bowhuntertex]

I would have to say 3.5 as well...........

[RustyRanchero]

Let him walk! He should be a good one next year.

[RobinHood]

That's what I was thinking. Those 4 that I saw last year were 3 1/2 also.
I guess the bucks don't live passed 3 1/2 over here.

[Texpppr]

Hard to pass on that on a small acerage place. Someone else won't.

[Porterhouse]

he looks 3 to me, let him walk if you can stand to do it...

[maglite]

looks a little young to me!! At least you are seeing bucks! I havent saw any bucks pics in 2 months!!!!!!! Just does fawns and hogs!!! I have saw bucks with my eyesx driving around and a couple small ones on the cams but thats it!!

[Hoyt Man]

Nice buck,I think I would let him go another year, but im sure your neighbors wont its a tough decision

[Krivoman]

i think you answered your own question in your post. YOU ARE SEEING NOTHING BUT DOES! Maybe you should put a hurt on the does for a change. If I saw 25 does in a field with 1 buck, what would it tell me about my herd. It would tell me that I am doing nothing but hurting the overall herd by shooting the one buck. Shoot a ton of does and let these "maybe" old enough deer alone. Otherwise you will be asking these same questions ever single year and you will be wondering why no deer can live past 3 years old.

[RobinHood]

Nice buck,I think I would let him go another year, but im sure your neighbors wont its a tough decision

That's what worries me. The neighbor on the west side shoots anything but usually kills early. And neighbor on east side usually plants a big oat patch that sucks alot of deer there. He has several grandkids come down and hunt and there's no telling what they shoot. I did notice that his oats aren't planted yet. Maybe he'll skip this year. I got my oats growin already. The good thing is I'm the only bowhunter, so I'll get an early start. The rut is usually during bowseason around here which also helps.

[trophy8]

krivoman said it best. start nailin does. he is a super good lookin buck and on 40 acres it would be tempting, becuase i doubt your neighbors will let him walk. i say he is 3.5. score maybe 120? good lookin young deer.

[RobinHood]

i think you answered your own question in your post. YOU ARE SEEING NOTHING BUT DOES! Maybe you should put a hurt on the does for a change. If I saw 25 does in a field with 1 buck, what would it tell me about my herd. It would tell me that I am doing nothing but hurting the overall herd by shooting the one buck. Shoot a ton of does and let these "maybe" old enough deer alone. Otherwise you will be asking these same questions ever single year and you will be wondering why no deer can live past 3 years old.

We usually take several does each year. We are on a co op here. We have the homestead and this 40 acres and get doe tags from the co op. It is just so different than last year. Last year we had way less does and more bucks. I had to record survey data both years and this year really surprised me with the results.

[Krivoman]

Well management is done year to year. Your neighbors probably are shooting most of your bucks which leave alot of does. So you can throw your hat in with them and blast away, or you can hope that the one one buck you let live makes it. If this is your best buck ever, then I would say shoot him. But if not, let him walk. Cause once you kill him, he will forsure not make another birthday.