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OT: deer question :OT

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RRP
RRP Posts: 25,897
in Off Topic
I'm not a deer hunter so I'm asking out of ignorance. Today was the first time this big boy has shown up in our side yard.

We counted 10 points. So does that mean he is at least 5 years old?

We have does show up all the time, but this is only the second buck we have seen. Back before the wasting disease I used to have put out 2 or 3 large scoops of shelled corn every night so our yard was a regular stop over. It was nothing to see 4 or 5 does out feeding at the same time. The record one time was 11 deer! What a herd that was!!!
Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
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    @RRP It’s pretty hard to tell from that pic. Even the coat and scaring can be deceiving. 

    Most people assume you can tell age by anylers but it’s really the neck and body. 

    If that chair wasn’t in the way I could give you a better idea. From what I can see it’s at least 3 years old. The girth on the neck suggests a little older. 

    (He is worth sending to the processor if that’s what you’re asking)

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
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    (Also with those kickers/stickers he may be a 12/13. That pick is a little deceiving. You got any full frontals? (The deer, not Ron)

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,897
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    Here's another shot I had made with the ZOOM.

    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,551
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    That’s definitely 1” sticker off the left g2. The others don’t appear to be long enough. Makes him an 11 pointer from what I can see. 

    Nice buck- Only way to accurately age him is by looking at his jaw bone/teeth but don’t think he is going to let you get a look :)  
    Greensboro, NC
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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
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    Ron I sent that pic to my buddy over at Outdoor Outlaws (He IS the deer whisperer). 

    He said at least 4-5. I agreed with him it was looking pretty malnourished. You may wanna have someone take him out of rotation if you don’t. 

     He gave the same reason of no side shot of body or back legs. But his back is sagging pretty good but I wasn’t sure if that was because he was sick or his belly was dropping. 

    So theres your answer from the pro. 

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
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    I would turn him into snausages

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • Gym
    Gym Posts: 366
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    The most accurate way I have found is to taste their scat. Sweet indicates a younger animal. Sour is much older. 

    Let me know how you make out.
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,164
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    https://youtu.be/2JSNr9NxOdA
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,897
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    Killit_and_Grillit said:
    Ron I sent that pic to my buddy over at Outdoor Outlaws (He IS the deer whisperer). 

    He said at least 4-5. I agreed with him it was looking pretty malnourished. You may wanna have someone take him out of rotation if you don’t. 

     He gave the same reason of no side shot of body or back legs. But his back is sagging pretty good but I wasn’t sure if that was because he was sick or his belly was dropping. 

    So theres your answer from the pro. 
    Interesting that you say he looks malnourished. Our property is adjacent to a lush 240 acre protected nature reserve. But I understand you guys know better than I. Just the same when he walked down the ravine behind me and then up in my yard he sure looked pretty big and strong to me. Then when he saw me he spooked and bolted like a dragster! 

    I assumed you just counted points and both my wife and I counted the same number on each side of the rack.

    Hopefully he'll be back and I can get some better pictures.
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
    edited December 2017
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    @RRP sometimes it can just mean they have some kind of disease or the wrong diet, not that they don’t have enough food. Reserve land can attribute to some of that. I had a buddy who had some kind similar set up. Nobody was killing off sick deer or supplementing diets. 

    Get us us some more pics!

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
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    @northGAcock, thanks for the Marisa Tomei fix. =) 

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,457
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    RRP said:
    I'm not a deer hunter so I'm asking out of ignorance. Today was the first time this big boy has shown up in our side yard.

    We counted 10 points. So does that mean he is at least 5 years old?

    That Buck has bones poking out on his back that resemble boobs.  Looks under fed to me.  Is that natural for deers sneaking off protected reserves ? 

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Mattman3969 said:
    RRP said:
    I'm not a deer hunter so I'm asking out of ignorance. Today was the first time this big boy has shown up in our side yard.

    We counted 10 points. So does that mean he is at least 5 years old?

    That Buck has bones poking out on his back that resemble boobs.  Looks under fed to me.  Is that natural for deers sneaking off protected reserves ? 
    Deer is malnourished and or injured.  Likely why the first time he's ventured into Ron's backyard.  I'm no expert but his health is questionable.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,897
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    Thanks everybody! With all the coyotes and wolves around here I'm dead serious I wonder why/how this poor b@stard has lived this long! We even have a couple neighbors with small herds of cattle who have shot deer let alone coyotes and wolves. Maybe this buck looks malnourished from out running the fangs or servicing all the does that we have around here with their offspring! Some buck sure the hell is knocking them up every year!   
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,357
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    Shoot him now!
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
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  • Dyal_SC
    Dyal_SC Posts: 6,056
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    Yeah shoot that poor fella and put some meat in that egg of yours. Lol. 
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    I would eat all those deer, raw.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    nolaegghead said:
    I would eat all those deer, raw.
    Carey, that's not a fish.  Reconsider.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • littlerascal56
    littlerascal56 Posts: 2,104
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    I bow hunted trophy deer for 28 years here in Kansas.  Shot some monsters that scored big, and knew they were 5-6 year old by their worn teeth.  The old bucks were gray and pot bellied (like many of us...lol), but not malnourished by any means.  That buck is skinny.even in the face!
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  • CountryBoy
    CountryBoy Posts: 102
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    Like most others have said it’s hard to judge purely on that picture for age without seeing a full image of the deer or tooth wear. But take in fact that in areas where competition is high with other bucks to breed does they can get a little beat up and run off a lot of weight looking for Love this time of year. Or he may be injured. Antlers look to be in good shape with no broken tines though. Are you near a bunch of crop fields or heavily wooded area? Corn fed deer obviously pack the pounds on a little different than deer in an area of just woods. My guess in age is 3.5I live in central Indiana. Similar size deer 2.5-3.5 year old range with good genetics. A lot can determine antler growth alone on a whitetail.
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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
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    Looks like he might just have weight loss from rutting. 

    I saw a MONSTER buck the other day, **** about ran in front of my car. Biggest one I have ever seen in person, the neck on him was very impressive. I noticed that more than the rack. 

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    When I notice a nice rack, inside my head I think "nice rack".
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
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    I did see the rack and thought "nice rack" but then i looked at the rest and he was a beefy SOB. I then immediately thought of jerky and sausage and backstrap steaks. And chili. 

    I haven't been able to hunt this year, wife wanted a house so I have been building that myself. 

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • Woodchunk
    Woodchunk Posts: 911
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    During rut if they are really active a 20% lose in body weight can happen
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    They'll lose 30% running from me if I'm hungry enough.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    edited December 2017
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    I clipped a nice one in my Chevy Thanksgiving weekend, after I saw another run out in front of a car a quarter mile ahead.  As I was driving, knew to be on the lookout, and sure enough one followed suit...
    No damage, but I got his hind legs with my front right when he kicked.

    He is quartered towards, too hard to tell if it's malnourished, but I doubt it.  Doesn't look injured, diseased, or in any distress, just an old, 5 year old buck, cruisin' around.  I'd eat it, and do a euro mount with that old boy, nice 11 pointer.
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • Jai-Bo
    Jai-Bo Posts: 584
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    It's a nice buck but like others said, looks rather skinny in the hind end rib area...  Ya'lls rut should be close to being over up there so more then likely weak and probably on his way down.  Just shoot him from your kitchen window and mount him on the wall.  Hard to tell the age unless a full body pic is seen, but they don't grow a point (or should I say 1 on each side every year).
    Hunting-Fishing-Cookin' on my EGG! Nothing else compares!
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  • Spaightlabs
    Spaightlabs Posts: 2,349
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    Wolves in southern Illinois?
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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
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    Spaightlabs said:
    Wolves in southern Illinois?
    Coyotes, wolves , and mountain lions, believe it or not. The DNR denies populating the area with wolves , but they are present. My uncle had the big cat in his back yard two years ago. One was shot and killed by a Local DNR agent at a farm down the road. It was killing the livestock and threatening the residents. He caught major crap over that. 

    More Northern IL. Maybe Ron could be classified as upper Central, but no where near southern. 
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,767
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    a friend shot a 13 point years ago, cutest little rack, i dont think it was a hundred pounder. definitely has something to do about the feed verse just age
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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