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I never really noticed before, but comparing these two bucks the first buck has a bigger body, neck, than the second buck. They are both 6's so I just assumed they are the same age. Both pictures were taken w/in a 1/4 mile of each other. My question is.... what age do you think these bucks are and if you would consider shooting either?

I am a duck hunter that occasionally hunts deer, so take it for what it's worth.

The first deer looks like an older deer that has never developed a good rack, or has had a good rack and is now on the decline, I would shoot him.

The second deer looks like a younger deer, and I would let him walk.

Jeff wrote:I am a duck hunter that occasionally hunts deer, so take it for what it's worth.

The first deer looks like an older deer that has never developed a good rack, or has had a good rack and is now on the decline, I would shoot him.

The second deer looks like a younger deer, and I would let him walk.

I agree.......top buck is old, I'd shoot him before the rut starts...

Old and not so old. Shoot and walk

First deer is OLD. At least six years old, hard to be for sure without looking at teeth, but looks to have reached it's decline stage. Second buck is still young but more than likely will not amount to a trophy size buck, unless unbelievable growth occurs.

first deer is 4 1/2 and second deer is 2 1/2

First deer, notice how his body is almost like a blob, no real definition. Notice how broad his front part of his body, like neck and shoulder have no distinct seperation.

Second deer, can see how he has muscle definition all over and his heck, shoulders, and hips are clearly defined. More like a horse...

What I've always been learned to look at...horns are really no indication except maybe the mass at it's bases in which the older deer is still not overly massive but moreso than the younger.

I wouldn't shoot #2 until next year, likely won't ever be a huge buck but might be a high and tight rack next season or the next...depends on nutrition...either way, wouldn't hurt to let him live a year a see what becomes...

6 and 3 1/2

I say the First Buck is 4 1/2, could be 5, he hasn't really got the sway in his back yet, personally he would be killed as a cull on my place. I don't think, just by looking at the picture, he is more than 5 years old. If he hasn't gotten any better, he isn't.

The 2nd buck is 2 1/2 at the most. I would give him another year at least and see what happens. If he didn't get alot better next year he would be culled as well.

Just my .02, take it for what it's worth.

Robert

ditto what Big R said

Appreciate the responses guys. I got a look at the younger 6 point this morning. Hard to tell through all the thick stuff but he looked like a good youngster. Saw four other bucks, no real shooters but glad to see they were on their feet in this nasty weather.

1.A bad 3 or 4 year old.... SHOOT

2. A good 1 year old.... DON'T SHOOT FOR 2 MORE YEARS AT LEAST

first deer is a cull buck

Second is 2 1/2 at most, and could just as easily be a 1 1/2 with decent genes. It has a young nose, and a the neck is no where near flush with shoulders.

1st one dies
2nd one lives another year or 2

I do not neccesarily agree with the consensus here.

I do not think you can actually age the deer by a picture... I have seen 2yr old deer look big in the woods. Just because the first deer looks to be more mature, does not always mean it is 5 or 6 yrs old. I would have to disagree with everyone and let them both live. If he is old, then natural selection will take him out.

Also, if you brought that first buck up to my skinning rack.... you would get laughed all the way back to town.

May be a different story if he ended up having the teeth to prove his old age. How many 6 yr old 6pts have you ever seen in MS....really????