Buck Blew Up - Age Opinions

[Throwin Darts]

2018 was a really really dry year on my place. 2 of the 4 tanks dried up and range conditions were bad.

2019 has been the complete opposite. I got tons of spring rains and the place is lush with natural browse.

The conditions really helped this buck add some inches from 2018 to 2019.

First two pics are 2018. Last two are 2019. How old is he?

2018





2019

[aarongray]

Not great at aging, but I will say he has a nice body on him.

[Aggiehunter08]

5.5

[TildenHunter]

I could see 5 yr old. Do you have any pics from last year where he is hard horned. It is so hard to age them in Velvet

[Throwin Darts]

I could see 5 yr old. Do you have any pics from last year where he is hard horned. It is so hard to age them in Velvet

Let me go look. I didn't pay much attention to him last year because he wasn't worth a darn but that's changing now!

[TheHammer]

Sounds cliche, but I say 4/5 this summer. I could see where he could be 5, but I’d say 4 if I had to guess. Last year not being as wet makes me think he could have been a scrawnier 4.5 year old last season. Brisket does have some sag to it, belly drops a little, small sag of the jaw in this years pictures. Still had a pencil neck going into his chest and not down into his brisket in ‘18. Like I said I could see 5 too.

[TexasArchery_27]

The second buck in the top picture declined signing the release form?

[bbqfan5909]

ID say 5 year old and put on 10" from last year.

[lanceodom]

Nice! I am thinking he is 3.5 to 4.5 in the first two and 4.5 to 5.5 second two. Our rule on our ranch is if in doubt, let them walk. He is a nice buck. I am also with Tilden would like to see him in hard antler.

[Throwin Darts]

I could see 5 yr old. Do you have any pics from last year where he is hard horned. It is so hard to age them in Velvet

This is the latest pic I have of him last year which was the first week of September. He's on the right. The bucks were just starting to rub out at this point.

[Throwin Darts]

The second buck in the top picture declined signing the release form?

I didn't want there to be any confusion on which buck I was talking about.

[Hoss163]

4.5

[jjaimes]

I'm saying 4 hard to tell though with Summer

[CastAndBlast]

I agree with 5s

[TildenHunter]

I don't think any younger then 5. Sling an arrow!