Looking for thoughts on what you guys think this deer might score. These are the best pictures I have. Also interested in thoughts on his age. Last year's pictures, so hopefully he's still around.

I can't estimate the score, but he doesn't have that "old" look. No graying of the muzzle, the skin looks tight with no hanging jowls, dew lap, etc. He looks very clean which makes me think that he's probably a 4 year old just beginning the prime of life. The antlers lack the thick, wide set bases that you see alot in older bucks.

JMHO

I'll guess a gross of low 170s and net of mid 150s.

Age 3.5-4.5, He doesn't look real old but, He's definitely mature.

Heck of a Buck!

Reloader

If ya need any help hunting him, I guess I might could lend a hand .

That's the Deer of a Lifetime!

Good Luck

Reloader

Here are a few of pictures of the deer from 2 years ago. By the way, the deer are absolutely free ranging...not high fenced/penned deer or anything like that. Just good neighbors that allow these deer to age. This if from the 2003 Season. We actually only saw this deer twice in 2004, very early in the year. He'll be one to shoot if he makes the rounds this year.

Here are a couple pictures of him from 2002...not very good pictures but you could see that he had potential even back then.

Given the other pictures you posted I'd say 5-1/2 this year and if the rains have been good he should easily go 160-170+ gross. (I do appear to have developed a serious case of under-estimating gross scores in the last few years.)

As for a net score, we like to say nets are for fish.

I'm guessing that this deer will be 6 1/2 this year because he looked like a 5 1/2 year old last year. He's starting to get a little thick in his midsection...of course it's obvious that these pics were taken pre-rut. Also, if you look back to his 2002 pictures I'd think he was 3 1/2 that year. The only thing that makes me pause on the 6 1/2 year old projection is that he looks really young in last year's pictures. But again, that was pre rut and they always look younger to me before their necks get swolen and they get cuts and scrapes all over their body.

Here's my guess at the scoring from last year's pictures. We found his right shed from 2 years ago and these are not too far off...but hell, it's still a guess.

Right Left
G1 4.00 4.00
G2 13.00 12.00
G3 11.00 10.50
G4 7.50 6.50
Total 35.50 33.00

M1 4.50 4.50
M2 4.00 4.00
M3 3.75 3.75
M4 3.75 3.75
Total 16.00 16.00

Beam 22.0 22.0

Spread 19

TOTAL 163.5

Extra Pts 3.5

Gross 167.0

I don't know. Maybe I put too much stock into the face, but his face doesn't look old in any of these pictures. When he gets the Roman nose and double chin you'll know he's 6-1/2 plus, if you see him.



M16 is better qualified than I am on the aging and judging. I'd be interested to see what he thinks.

Hardly anyone would fault you for shooting him this year if you get the chance.

Absolutely agree on the nose and face area on aging a deer. I don't think you can put too much stock in that area. I guess I wouldn't be surprised to see him with a start of a roman nose this year. Picture #2 looks like he's getting that pot belly and sway back but that might just be the angle. Maybe I've just been biased from the first time I saw him because I assumed that he was a 3 1/2 year old deer when he was actually only 2 1/2. He might have just been a damn good 2 1/2 year old.

That deer in your post definitely has that old look to his face. Here is a deer I shot last year and you can see that same double chin and roman nose on him. He was aged at 6 1/2.

Well, I guess it's easy to say now that you posted your estimate, but my first stab was gross at 160-165. I have shot a few Texas deer, and always look out for overjudging the spread and mass. I was pretty close to your estimate on both-- I was thinking 17 or 18 inside spread, and threw the masses in there at 14-15 a side. Didn't really think about the stickers or such.....
Hell, fault you for shooting him this year?! I really respect your co-hunters and neighbors for not having smoked him already. You must have a good group there. I pass bucks with my bow that get smoked every year, 120 class min. and they seem to get popped, and all these trophy hunters seem to have chronic ground shrinkage disease--I swore he was a 150 class.... Thanks for sharing the photo's.

Good luck on seeing him or his big brother this fall!--Don

As the above shows trying to age a deer by what it looks like is not reliable

The only objective way of ageing deer is that of examing the molars. This requires cutting them in two and counting the growth rings as in a tree.

I'd say he's a real good and gentically gifted deer whether he is 5-1/2 going on 6-1/2 or a year younger. His hams are getting blocky and his back has some sway in it. I guess when/if you see him this year you can look for sagging skin on the face, whether he has more of a pot belly, and how his nose/chin look.

Most guys will talk the talk but will pull the trigger on a 160 plus without regard to age. Here's hoping I get a chance to test my resolve this year.

Good luck either way.

You can damn sure age a deer by what it looks like! We have to do it all the time. You look at so many of the things it gets pretty easy. Texas deer season is alot longer than almost all states and we look at alot of deer. If you are really into a mangament program like where we hunt, you have to learn this skill. It's not really hard, just takes practice. You might miss one or two, but most of the time you are dead on. When they get 6 1/2 and over it gets a little tougher to be exact, but you know by this time he is a mature deer. I would be willing to wager that deer is 4 1/2. His body is not quite filled out. i.e his neck is pretty slender and his back is a little too straight to be 5 1/2. There is no pot belly showing signs of old deer, but what gives it away is his slender nose. At 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 his face will fill out and the nose will become shorter and more roman like. We would not shot this deer and would let him go for 2 more years. Now I am not judging if you do take him. This is a hell of a deer and a good trophy. I think he could be a freak in a couple of years. G2's are execptional. G4's will always be a little weak. But his mass is what he will put on so much in 2 years. But here's the catch 22 of whitetail deer hunting. Unless this is a small, and I mean small high fence ranch. Odds are when this deer turns 5 1/2, the light bulb comes on and he becomes a ghost. Deer hunters see very few of the 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 year old deer in the areas they are hunting. They are there, but they go nocturnal. Case in point. Dr. James Kroll gave his graduate students (8) a test that was their semester mid-terms. He has a 300 acre high fence ranch he uses as his breeding stock. The 300 acres has an average amount of cover. The students job was to get a picture in 6 weeks time of a mature deer on the 300 acres. There were a total of 7 mature animals on the 300 acres. Only 1 student pulled it off. It was not from a lack of effort. They go nocturnal. Sorry to get off the subject a little. This is a great deer! And my gues this deer scores 165. I think your real close in scoring

I looked real close again and I am more convinced this deer is 4 1/2. I really would like to see him on the hoof. (just for aging purposes) . But he just doesn't have the flatter and wider forehead(space between the eyes). This deer is going to a a giant! It gets me fired up for deer season. I leave to Kansas in 3 weeks for a ML hunt!!

Another vote for 4 1/2 years old. My guess is 160-165. Should be in his prime this year. Post some pictures when he is on the ground.

He could be 3 1/2 to 4 1/2, not a bit older in my opinion. Still looks slim, no old buck paunch, he'll net in the 150 range and I'd have to hammer one like that.

I hate trying to score or age deer from pictures. Camera's and angles do weird things to deer. With that disclaimer out of the way I think the deer will be at least 6.5 years old this hunting season. I agree that he doesn't look it in the face but you can't go by face alone. I think he would score in the low 160's. If he gains some mass this year and keeps those kickers he will be a bruiser buck. I love deer with "trash" points. Without a doubt you have every reason to look forward to this years season. Who knows as this is the type of buck that could jump 20 or 30 B&C inches or more in a good year.