The second Age This Buck article this month features a buck that was shot this past fall in Northern Illinois. He was generally a loner buck and regularly showed his face during daylight.
The video below shows his change in body size from August to November. Take your best guess in the comments below, and check out the guesses from our resident aging experts.
This buck exhibits all the characteristics of an exceptional three-year-old with less than developed hams, minimal extension of hair or skin at the brisket and no sag in the back or belly, complemented by a well-defined if not pointed nose.
I believe this buck is 3.5 years old. The image that is most telling is the trail cam photo from 2021. Textbook 2.5 year old buck. Long-legged, thin neck, virtually no brisket, and has a body shape that resembles a doe. Therefore, he would have been a 3.5-year-old in 2022 where he exhibits a slightly more filled-out physique. His chest has become broader but still sports that classic 3.5-year-old slim build and long legs.
This is a buck that I was lucky enough to shoot this past fall. I actually saw him 3 separate times before I was able to arrow him, and he was frequently showing up on camera. Based off of deer size in the area, past trail camera photos, and his behavior, my best guess would be that he was 3 years old when I shot him. His body is just starting to fill out and based off his neck and shoulder size when I shot him in November, he just wasn't quite mature yet compared to some of the other bucks in the area.
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