Field Judge A Deer

This is the time of year we get lots of calls and emails asking us how to field judge deer. I wrote this column a couple years ago but it is so popular and answers so many readers questions that I decided to run it again.

Learning how to field judge a deer’s age on the hoof is easier than a lot of hunters think. Just like most other things, it takes practice.

It wasn’t too many years ago that virtually all deer hunters decided to pull the trigger without determining the age of a deer. But today, more and more hunters have learned that being able to figure a deer’s age helps the young and middle age deer to have a chance to mature. A buck will never grow it antlers to its full genetic potential until he is allowed to mature.

Many hunters have asked me to describe what a mature deer looks like. Most of the time, when this question comes up, the hunter has never seen a mature buck. Here’s why. It’s obvious. A mature buck stands out among other whitetail deer as much as a professional basketball player does in a crowd of humans. Immediately, judging by their size it is obvious.

To begin with I would recommend that you begin to determine age of humans. Seriously. This will aid in your ability to become more accurate. It will also help you understand the physical changes (in our bodies) that we all have at different times in our lives. Without knowing someone, you can tell approximately how old they are by simply looking at their body. Same is true with deer.

By the time humans reach their late teens, their skeletal structure is fully-grown. From that point on, their bodies will fill out. Once the person becomes older, it seems inevitable that their bodies look old too. Their stomachs, chest, legs and neck all put on added weight. The older a person becomes, the easier it is to tell their age.

A deer does not become mature until it is five years old. Prior to that time, the deer’s skeletal structure and frame is developing. Then at the age of four, the deer starts to put on added body weight to its’ fully developed skeletal structure.

To begin field judging deer for age, the last thing you want to look at is the set of antlers. Antlers are at best a poor clue because antler growth rates are inconsistent with age. Some bucks grow their antlers quicker than others. The best way to judge a live deer’s age is to look only at the body.

Let’s break down three different age brackets for deer. Young: deer up to two and a half years old. Middle age: deer three and a half to four and a half years old. Mature: deer being five and a half years of age and older.

Young deer are easy to tell. They have smaller heads as fawns and slender heads as they get older. A young buck will have a face that resembles a does. His body will also look like that of a doe, being long, lanky and slender. His neck is skinny and his front legs will appear close together at his chest.

Middle-aged deer become much more filled out in the body. They lose the skinny face, and their bodies look more like that of a racehorse. Their bodies are now developing and they are putting on weight through their shoulders, neck and rump. The best way that I determine the difference between a three and a four year old is by looking at the deer from the side and paying close attention to where the stomach meets the body by the rear legs. If the stomach still goes up it is three. If it is straight to the legs, it is four.

Mature deer will stick out as mentioned above. Unfortunately, most deer never reach maturity for many reasons. But seeing one will really make a lasting impression. They are much heavier in their bodies than middle-aged deer. Their chests become deep and their legs appear to be short and farther apart at the chest. Their faces become full and their necks are now flabby. Their stomachs are now big and their backs are sagged. They have lost that look of a racehorse. Look even closer and you’ll even see wrinkles at the base of their ears. They look old and it is obvious.

The only way to become accurate is to spend time afield practicing. Take the time to look at each deer and study their different physical characteristics. It’s a lot of fun. More importantly, you’ll learn that it is easier than you thought.

In many states deer are shot before they have a chance to mature. That’s a shame, because a deer will never become a true trophy until it is allowed to mature.

Wildlife Enterprises sells a laminated field guide for buck deer complete with photographs. You can order this guide by calling 830-257-4538 or visit their website at www.wildlifeenterprises.com. According to Wildlife Enterprises, this guide was developed at the request of landowners and ranchers to aid their hunters in the field. If you want to become better at determining the age of a buck deer, then this guide is a must.