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Post by HighCotton on Jun 15, 2014 8:53:02 GMT -5
Due to the fact that my 2013 bow buck dressed 232 pounds, I have taken further steps to determine the exact age. Here is a pic of the brute. I've had meetings with my Wildlife Biologist and the lower incisors are now at a Texas lab for exact analysis through a process called cementum annuli. Results confirmed within the next 3 weeks. I will post more data as available but thought it would be interesting to gather thoughts and guesses here.
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Post by steve46511 on Jun 15, 2014 10:38:58 GMT -5
Not being one so vain that I am afraid of being incorrect, I'll give it a shot and undoubtedly my opinion will differ from more than a few. (Deer hunters are like that.......yeah they are. ) Strictly going by what I have seen here in IN. and a "gut feeling".......I'll give him 5 1/2 years but 4 1/2 would not surprise me one iota. God Bless BTW.....I'm jealous!
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 15, 2014 10:46:27 GMT -5
Whopper sized buck ...
Guessing a 3 1/2 year old buck with 1 1/2 year old rack?
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Post by scrub-buster on Jun 15, 2014 11:22:50 GMT -5
I'll go with a healthy 3.5
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 15, 2014 12:44:20 GMT -5
Whopper sized buck ... Guessing a 3 1/2 year old buck with 1 1/2 year old rack? .........and a glandular problem..
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Post by windingwinds on Jun 15, 2014 14:18:49 GMT -5
2 and half years old. If he is older than that then really poor antler genetics. Since we've started raising painted desert sheep the horn growth difference between bloodlines is amazing. I'm guessing that food sources were adequate in your area last summer and fall.
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Post by deadeer on Jun 15, 2014 15:10:49 GMT -5
I'll go with the 3 1/2 yo crowd. Awfully handsome deer regardless his age or genetic +/- outcome. Congrats to you.
Jay
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Post by schall53 on Jun 15, 2014 15:31:08 GMT -5
I'll go with 3.5 he has a young looking face.
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Post by featherduster on Jun 15, 2014 15:34:00 GMT -5
It's a pen raised yearling that escaped from a high fence operation just outside of Mill Creek,Indiana.
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Post by HighCotton on Jun 15, 2014 16:40:04 GMT -5
It's a pen raised yearling that escaped from a high fence operation just outside of Mill Creek,Indiana. OK 'duster! You can't play no more!!!
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Post by schall53 on Jun 16, 2014 18:23:51 GMT -5
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Post by trapperdave on Jun 17, 2014 6:20:55 GMT -5
2.5
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 17, 2014 6:39:53 GMT -5
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Post by swilk on Jun 17, 2014 7:51:45 GMT -5
Ignoring everything about the deer other than overall body length and therefore weight I will say 4.5 years old.
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Post by boonechaser on Jun 17, 2014 10:39:26 GMT -5
3.5
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Post by oldhoyt on Jun 19, 2014 8:01:28 GMT -5
I can easily see how this deer would be 4.5 - 6.5. Antlers are smallish, but also seem to be in decline, like you see on older bucks. Everything about the rack just looks "half-scale". Obviously a healthy deer, and heavier than you'd expect generally for a wild Indiana deer past 5.5 years old. Still not out of the question though.
I'd be more surprised to hear it was 3.5 than 5.5 or older. None of this is based on real science, just my impression from his appearance.
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Post by boonechaser on Jun 19, 2014 8:27:23 GMT -5
Still think it's a younger deer with poor genetic's. IMO. Guess we will know when result's come back.
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Post by swilk on Jun 19, 2014 9:12:07 GMT -5
Still think it's a younger deer with poor genetic's. IMO. Guess we will know when result's come back. What is your theory on the overall length of the deer? IMO with age comes length and with length comes weight. I have seen many impressive necked bucks with great headgear tip the scales at under 200lbs and be in that 3.5 yo age group. They lack the overall body length to get into that heavy weight class. Cool thing about this one is we will really find out whos guesses are the best.
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Post by HuntMeister on Jun 19, 2014 9:39:20 GMT -5
Hard for me to estimate with him laying on the ground. Obviously a large body and big neck. I'm going with no older than 4. Looking forward to the results!
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Post by htownhunter on Jun 19, 2014 10:02:16 GMT -5
6.5
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