Really young or old?

[Abcdj]

We watched this deer the other morning with two other bucks. You could see his hip bones and every rib. You can see in the pics. He was 6 inches taller at his back than the other two more mature looking deer.

First thoughts were he is young 2.5 or 3.5 with a really good rack.

Then we thought is he way old? Over the hill.

Then we thought is it a stag ? Upon further inspection we found a set.

Then we wondered. Is he in good enough shape to make it through the rut? If he loses 30-40 pounds I don't think he will.

Then what if he gets in a fight. He will get killed. Our rut is pretty brutal with so many bucks around. Best thing for him would be to snap off a main beam so he couldn't fight.

What if he doesn't make it ? Do we need to shoot him now?

To much thinking?
Or
Just let it play out?
Or
Take him out know?

[Mexico]

I think he's a sick 2/3 yr old. Zero wear on his knees.

[brokeno]

He doesn't look old to me. Maybe wormy. He doesn't look bad to me either you should see my Charolais cattle.

[Jon B]

I think young.

[Aggiehunter08]

Young

[SanSaba007]

Agree with others


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[rtp]

Definitely young. Roll the dice on him. Hopefully it’s just a passing illness.


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[stickfigure]

I agree with he others looks young to me.

[BrokenJ]

I’ll be odd man out and say old.

[troy_w_7]

We watched this deer the other morning with two other bucks. You could see his hip bones and every rib. You can see in the pics. He was 6 inches taller at his back than the other two more mature looking deer.

First thoughts were he is young 2.5 or 3.5 with a really good rack.

Then we thought is he way old? Over the hill.

Then we thought is it a stag ? Upon further inspection we found a set.

Then we wondered. Is he in good enough shape to make it through the rut? If he loses 30-40 pounds I don't think he will.

Then what if he gets in a fight. He will get killed. Our rut is pretty brutal with so many bucks around. Best thing for him would be to snap off a main beam so he couldn't fight.

What if he doesn't make it ? Do we need to shoot him now?

To much thinking?
Or
Just let it play out?
Or
Take him out know?

The face is telling my younger but the headgear is telling me otherwise! Looks like he should be a dead-year old to me!

[Dale Moser]

I’ll be odd man out and say old.

I think I’m with you. Can’t say I have a ton of experience with super old, or sick, deer….but that don’t look like any 2 year old I ever saw.


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[PYBUCK]

He's a young 3 year old that didn't get a lot of groceries during the drought year. Give him 2 more good years and then see what he looks like. I'm thinking you will be glad you waited.

[Puncher51]

I’d love a side view, not sure if it’d help or not. Doesn’t look super old, but I’ve been wrong on these type of deer before.

[RMW]

Thinking a 3 year old, got any good pics of his feet?

[txtimetravler]

Young to middle aged.

Could be favoring his back left leg