Yes you are looking at this right, this big bodied deer is indeed a buck! There are a number of characteristics to look at when ageing this particular deer besides his massive body size. the rounded nose, is an indicator that this buck past his prime along with the lose skin found around the deer’s body. Along with all these characteristics, this deer has a belly that sags well below the line of a mature animal. One factor is that fact that this deer’s legs look to small for it’s body.
With these photos and the descriptions given above what is your best guess as to the age of this Illinois whitetail? Scroll down to the bottom of the page and compare your response to the responses of our hunters panel!
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Expert Opinions
Graham Cronin
The thick neck and visibly loose skin on this buck indicates to me that he is 6.5+
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Mark Kenyon
This deer is amazing, haha! Smallest antlered mature deer I've ever seen. Despite being not-so-well endowed in the antler category he has a thick neck, full chest, and big belly. At least 4.5 in my book.
Bob Zaiglin
This is an old buck beyond its prime with a rounded drooping nose, slight drop in the lower jaw, and a neck so large one can’t distinguish the point where the base of the neck meets the chest cavity. Its body core is so large its legs appear shorter. It also has a cut in its right ear. I would place this deer in its seventh year.
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