This week’s edition of ‘Age This Buck’ is a good looking deer from the Northeast area of Illinois. All of these pictures and videos are from early November on, so keep in mind that the rut in this part of the state usually peaks around early to mid-November.
Leave your best guess in the comments section below, and check out what our experts think about this deer’s age!
He has a classic look of a 4 ½-year-old buck. Rectangular body, deep chest, swollen neck, and heavy staining on his tarsal glands suggest this buck is 4 ½ years old.
His back half is slim and there is no sway in his back. My guess is 3 year old. But I think he has a positive attitude that will lead him to multiple breeding partners.
The neck of this buck appears larger than the size of its chest, which is an indicator that the animal is beyond maturity and the reason I call it five years old. Its facial features are also reflecting signs of age. The general rough appearance of the hide also suggests that this buck has breached the five-year age class. Don’t be fooled by the tight stomach or the level back because they are a reflection of the deer’s position as it walks and more importantly a result of weight loss attributable to overexertion throughout the rut.
See What Our Experts Think
Expert Opinions
Erik Barber
Dan Johnson
