Roe buck age
- Thread starter WildBoarHunter
- Start date
Agree, I’m not on any land that either I don’t share (syndicate) or surrounded by other shot land, so whatever walks out - in season- ends up in my chiller. If I don’t shoot it someone else will. I think if we are honest the vast majority of ground in this overcrowded country is the same.
Were the photos taken recently? If so, and of course we are all doing nothing but guessing, but from the look of his antlers I'd think 3 at best.
Although a six-pointer there looks to be no real length to the main beams, small coronets, little pearling and no overall mass to the antlers. His body and hind quarters don't suggest any great weight either and - from the photos at least - his neck appears to be quite thin.
If you can, take a browse through "Roe Deer and their Antlers", by Pavel Scherer. He has some great series of photos of Eastern European roe buck heads, taken year after year. Whilst nutrition will have an impact, there are plenty of examples shown of 2 year old bucks carrying six-point heads, which look not dissimilar in conformation to the antlers of the buck in your photos.
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
It is mate ,except where there are DMGs of course
In the past I’ve shot every buck ive seen early May on a patch where new planting was ongoing but still every doe is covered come the rut .
There arnt many large swaths of the uk that are shot as a total area and there are many parcels of land that hold roe untouched that re populate areas over time .I never worry about shooting too many bucks .
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foxdropper
Well-Known Member
Trouble is mate ,not every buck will make a decent tall six and as you are saying there is a great deal of guess work trying to predict what the head will do .
I think matching our roe with European stock is a mistake though .
@WildBoarHunter is based in Slovenia, or at least that is what it says in his profile. Hence why I referenced Eastern European roe.
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
Well spotted mate 
You're right on the inconsistency of roe though and, as you point out, not every roe will make a good six-pointer. Some just never amount to much.
In addition, trailcam photos can be difficult to decipher, particularly because the angle of the photo can often distort the image.
That said, I'd still stick with my guess that the photo is of a younger animal, from the body conformation as much as the antlers, as he doesn't look to me like he is carrying much mass in his body. I thought that second photo makes his neck look thin too, which is why I questioned whether the photos are recent or not.
The only way to know for sure is to get him in the chiller!
I don't shoot many of my roe but the numbers aren't going up. If anything the population is reducing. Probably gettkng hammered when they go next door. What age this one ? 
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
Looking like a very well fed youngster under 4 years old.
Difficult to see in the photo but coronets look straight, no obvious sloping and the body is still very angular.
I agree with the previous “management “ comments.
Unless you have thousands of acres in a big block, any “management” culling will be about as effective in shaping the resident Roe population as per the concept of herding cats!
There’s far bigger external influences that shape Roe population dynamics than any recreational stalker can ever achieve through selective trigger pulling.
Not bothered about shooting them to be honest I don't find them much of a challenge. So many fallow here it's nice to have a few months off and just watch them
A single buck will cover many does , the more bucks there are on the land , means lots of does ,
Get the Bucks shot , another one will soon take its place ,
Then concentrate on the does , in season ,
Culling , means culling, big or small bucks , sod the heads,
Unless your going into the whole " gene thing , for medals " which I know nowt about ( that's for the more intelligent guys )
Kjf
Get the Bucks shot , another one will soon take its place ,
Then concentrate on the does , in season ,
Culling , means culling, big or small bucks , sod the heads,
Unless your going into the whole " gene thing , for medals " which I know nowt about ( that's for the more intelligent guys )
Kjf
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foxdropper
Well-Known Member
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
I know it ,you know it ,that’s a monster roe buck Steve .
baguio
Well-Known Member
Despite all the very knowledgeable and experienced stalkers on here, not one guess as to the age of this one? Come on guys. What have you got to lose?
baguio
Well-Known Member
Sorry, one guess. Come on guys. Show us what you know!
Count the candles on its birthday cake.
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
The bottom line is that people cannot accurately age a photo of a random Roe buck posted on an internet forum.
There is no way to verify any answer.
It quickly becomes a speculative and pointless exercise.
Age class yes, exact age to the year……..nope!
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
Not your usual style baggy .You usually come on all guns blazing .Are you a bit stumped on that and asking for the answer .
No matter his age he’s a stunner and I hope to see him boiled out when in summer coat and a shoulder mount to follow .
No matter his age he’s a stunner and I hope to see him boiled out when in summer coat and a shoulder mount to follow .
If he turns up in the next month or 2 you will
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