That deer in the first pic is older than 4-5. It's been discussed on here before, aging deer is not just about the weight. You look for body characteristics, Sway back, roman nose, protruding brisket, loose skin, pot belly, the way the neck blends into the shoulders, extra flaps around the ears, etc, etc. All older bucks exhibit these characteristics. There's definitely a set mold concerning body type and age. If you showed me the 2 racks as sheds, I'd swear they came from the same deer but when you look at the bodies of the two, they tell a different story.

Pic didnt post but there is a photobucket link 6 posts above yours that is a much better pic for aging.

Yes 100% certain it's the same deer.

No way, definitely a different deer.

Just so we are all on the same page there's no way in Hedes you can compare the body sizes, fat bellies, facial characteristics etc of a buck picture taken in winter (the older pic) and one taken in the middle of summer. I've had the opportunity to watch multiple bucks progress from their prime until way past it. The antler characteristics of these two bucks are almost identical. The way the beams sweep up, the angle of the brow tines, the kicker, etc. Watch him as he goes through the fall/winter transformation and I'm betting most of you saying different deer will come around and change your mind. Nothing in the pics provided suggests he's not the same.

This may be one that we all have to just agree to disagree on�..I�m with Matt though. I can�t recall where I read it, but it seems like I remember reading something that said summer time was a horrible time to try and age deer. I�ve killed deer off of the same property with very similar rack characteristics before that I believed to be related�.but not identical like this one. There�s just too many small characteristics about those racks that's identical for me to believe they are different deer.

Yes I think so

Dr. B

I generally agree with most everything on your aging and scoring but we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I do agree with everything you are saying Matt about summer pics, but the deer in the pic that is not showing in the thread (one on the photobucket account link) doesn't look 9-10 yrs old to me any way you cut it summer or not. Looks like a healthy 5 yr old. We will probably never know the answer to this question because he's probably one of those "vampire bucks" whether he's 5 or 10. Also, if he is 9 or 10, of the bucks I've seen age past prime, most peaked at 6 or maybe 7 then generally lost a lot more antler size than this on the way down hill especially by the time they were 9-10 yrs old.

I'm with Matt again, can't compare pics from summer and winter. Night and days difference

Absolutely the same deer!

Dang fine deer too!

same

I guess you're gonna have to shoot him and send his teeth to a cementum annuli lab to tell us if he's 8 YO or more.

I didn't take time to read the few thesis's above but you can't tell how a deer progresses from spring/summer body condition to fall/winter especially in different years. That said, looks like same deer.

Yup

Yup, 10% of the time you are right every time

I'm definitely going to have to kill it, so we will no for sure.

Hope you get him! Nice buck!!

Do you have a good idea where he might be bedding? I'd be willing to bet a shiny new nickel that it's not too far from where you're getting pics of him. Deer just don't travel far this time of year.

Fact. Brow tines are like a thumb print. They may add junk over the years, but rarely change configuration. Cool buck!