{"id":319,"date":"2017-10-10T06:47:43","date_gmt":"2017-10-10T06:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tma65.com\/blog\/?p=319"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:37:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:37:54","slug":"properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/","title":{"rendered":"Properly Aging a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Properly_Aging_a_Whitetail_Buck_on_the_Hoof\" >Properly Aging a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Fawn\" >Fawn<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#One_and_a_Half_Years\" >One and a Half Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Two_and_a_Half_Years\" >Two and a Half Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Three_and_a_Half_Years\" >Three and a Half Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Four_and_a_Half_Years\" >Four and a Half Years<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/properly-aging-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof\/#Five_and_a_Half_Years_and_On\" >Five and a Half Years and On<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Properly_Aging_a_Whitetail_Buck_on_the_Hoof\"><\/span>Properly Aging a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Properly Aging a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof. While taking great care to determine a buck\u2019s age before pulling the trigger is starting to become more commonplace in the deer woods nationwide, there are still many young ones not given a pass. Typically, this isn\u2019t really the hunter\u2019s fault. Rather, it\u2019s a lack of education when it comes to being a good judge of a buck\u2019s age.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Bucks are often on the move, especially during the rut, and can sometimes be hard to identify as a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tag\/shooter\/\">shooter<\/a> or a passer. Insert dense hardwoods into this equation and the judging can be downright difficult. Aside from young hunters who are seeking that desired first kill, those of us who make up the older guard should by now have a pretty good grasp on the makeup of a mature <a title=\"The Summer Patterns of Whitetail Bucks\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/the-summer-patterns-of-whitetail-bucks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">whitetail buck<\/a>. Here\u2019s a year-by-year rundown.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fawn\"><\/span>Fawn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Unless you\u2019re <a title=\"JL\u2019s Deer Hunting Gear\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/jls-deer-hunting-gear\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting axis deer<\/a>, if it has spots, don\u2019t shoot. Identifying differences between males and females at this stage are a bit tougher, and many button bucks have been accidentally shot at last light, mistaken for a doe. A button buck sports a head that hasn\u2019t grown into the ears and a flat crown, rather than rounded like the female\u2019s. <a title=\"binoculars\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/tag\/binoculars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Binoculars<\/a> with excellent light-gathering ability will weigh heavily into the survival of button bucks that are victims of our \u201cTaking a doe at last light.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_and_a_Half_Years\"><\/span>One and a Half Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">This yearling buck is wearing his first rack, which is typically inside his perked ears. His frame is still slim and his legs will look like they\u2019re too long for his body. Quite like a Labrador retriever in its first year, the yearling buck hasn\u2019t developed the muscles that give proportion to the body.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Narrow spread aside, well-fed one and a half year olds may still have up to ten points on their antlers. Don\u2019t be fooled. Let the body be the ultimate deciding factor if you\u2019re still unsure.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Two_and_a_Half_Years\"><\/span>Two and a Half Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">A two and a half year old with good genetics that lives in a heavily <a title=\"How to Maximize Deer Hunting Season\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/how-to-maximize-deer-hunting-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunted area doesn\u2019t stand much of a chance during the season<\/a>. We\u2019re not pointing fingers; we\u2019ve all done it. Perhaps it\u2019s been a long season and he\u2019s the best you\u2019ve seen. Or maybe the leafless branches add volume to his rack, which can be high and wide, but usually without much mass. Again, let the body dictate your decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"856\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot<\/a> or not.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"wp-image-320\" src=\"https:\/\/tma65.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/inner64-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/06\/inner64.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>Two and a half year olds like this will grow to become real trophies in just another year or two.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">This buck is beginning to fill out, but still has noticeable differences from a mature buck. His body and coat are sleek. His tarsal glands are starting to show a light stain though it\u2019s not the dark brown of seasoned bucks.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_and_a_Half_Years\"><\/span>Three and a Half Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">As a buck gets older, identifying his age becomes more difficult. His body has further filled out and his legs look nearly proportional to his body. During the rut, his neck will swell up and the tarsal glands are dark brown and smell like they should. However, the coat will still be rather sleek and untattered; unlike the rut veteran. This buck is so tempting to shoot, but if there\u2019s any possible way for you to leave the safety on and let him live to <a title=\"Best Places to See Wildlife in the USA This Summer\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/best-places-to-see-wildlife-in-the-usa-this-summer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see another summer<\/a>, then he\u2019ll look great on the wall.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Four_and_a_Half_Years\"><\/span>Four and a Half Years<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">The four and a half year old buck\u2019s body is completely filled out. In fact, his legs may look like they\u2019re too short for the body. The buck\u2019s rack is nearing it\u2019s peak though another year would be ideal to really get the most antler. He may show signs of a brutal rut with broken points and a scarred body. But at this age, nobody in camp should judge you too harshly for <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/why-you-might-consider-a-ballistic-calculator\/\">shooting<\/a> this deer. In most heavily <a title=\"hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/category\/hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunted<\/a> areas, bucks don\u2019t make it past, or even to, four and a half years old.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Five_and_a_Half_Years_and_On\"><\/span>Five and a Half Years and On<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">For the next couple years, this is likely the dominant buck in his territory. That is, if he makes it to season five. These deer really only exist on large, well-managed private lands with few <a title=\"30mm vs 1 Inch Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/30mm-vs-1-inch-rifle-scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunters<\/a>. Their bodies appear round as they\u2019ve reached maximum muscle capacity. Antlers are at their peak and will actually start declining in just a couple of short years. His coat during the rut will be tattered and very gray, his neck swollen and tarsal glands extremely dark and smelly. If this deer has had access to good nutrition throughout the course of his life, he\u2019ll be the buck of dreams.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Making it past this last age bracket is a real stretch though it does happen. These are the bucks that are rarely seen or caught on trail camera. We see their rubs and scrapes without realizing the creator is a real trophy. As bucks age, they get smarter. Their home range lessens considerably as they wait for does to find them instead of giving chase during peak rut. They mostly move at night, possibly because there are fewer gun shots when the sun goes down.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/p><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Take your time when a buck appears, even if he\u2019s chasing. Study him through your <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/binoculars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"binoculars\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"138\">binoculars<\/a>. Many of us regret <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting<\/a> a young buck with lots of potential more so than letting him walk. Plus, when bucks with good genetics have the opportunity to spread their seed, it\u2019ll only increase the number of shooters on your property over time.<\/p><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Properly Aging a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2258,2259,2265],"tags":[2391,2396,2398,2401,2412,2414,2417,2418,2420,2421,2422,2423,2424,2425,2427,2432,2433,2435,3337],"class_list":["post-319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hunting","category-hunting-rifle-scope","category-rifle-scope","tag-best-ballistic-calculator","tag-best-bino-tripod-for-hunting","tag-best-binocular-company","tag-best-binoculars-canada","tag-best-books-for-outdoorsmen","tag-best-buy-binoculars","tag-best-coyote-call","tag-best-crossbow-scope","tag-best-deer-tracking-dogs","tag-best-hunting-arrows","tag-best-hunting-binoculars-canada","tag-best-hunting-rangefinder","tag-best-hunting-scope","tag-best-hunting-scopes","tag-best-hunting-sunglasses","tag-best-lens-pen","tag-best-leupold-binoculars-for-hunting","tag-best-monocular","tag-whitetail-buck"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11513,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions\/11513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}