So much is said about shooting old, mature bucks. Some outfitters even have a minimum age that they’ll permit their charges to shoot. But is there a guaranteed way to age a deer?
While you can’t guarantee determining the exact age, there’s a good way to make a very educated guess. Field & Stream‘s Dave Hurteau explains how to do it.
Hardly any hunter would criticize you for shooting a 3 1⁄2-year-old buck. But if you’re setting a higher bar for yourself and want to down a fully mature whitetail—one that’s 4 1⁄2 years old or older—you have to learn the subtle differences between big and bigger.
Next time a potential shooter approaches, look for the key features listed below to decide if you should take the shot or wait for a more mature buck… [continued]
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