Age of Fallow?

[Sandy25]

Morning all,

Was out on the ground this morning and managed to take this fallow buck before the season ends. Didn’t think his head was great beforehand, but when I got to the animal I was surprised at its size and the general condition of the buck in general.
He weighed in at 27.5kg dressed out with head and legs off, was fairly skinny and small.

I wondered what people thought his age could be, and if the head is normal or a partial malform?

Many thanks is advance,

Sandy

 

[Sandy25]

 

[VSS]

Last year's fawn, so coming up to one year old now.
Not wintered particularly well by the sounds of things, if he was skinny.
Normal head.

 

[HonestJohn]

is it April 1st again? Joking aside - yearling, and in fine enough condition

 

[Sandy25]

Ok, I thought it might have been an older animal with a low bodyweight and poor head which I why I asked!

Is that kind of head good for a yearling or one that needed taking out?

 

[VSS]

Ok, I thought it might have been an older animal with a low bodyweight and poor head which I why I asked!

Is that kind of head good for a yearling or one that needed taking out?

Depends on your locality.
In North Wales, they would be exceptionally good spikes for a yearling. In other parts of the country they might be considered very poor.
As a general rule, to have any chance of developing into a good head, the pricket spikes, when clean of velvet, want to be longer than the ears.

 

[Tim.243]

View attachment 417388
View attachment 417389

They were born nearly a year ago (May) the one I shot last week was 28kg remember bucks are generally heavier


Doe ready to drop with a follower see the size difference.

 

[Sandy25]

They were born nearly a year ago (May) the one I shot last week was 28kg remember bucks are generally heavier
View attachment 417395
View attachment 417396

Are some of those bucks in the top photo clean already?

 

[Tim.243]

Are some of those bucks in the top photo clean already?

There is not much to clean lol and that area is dense so they will be rubbing past a lot of brush.

 

[Sandy25]

There is not much to clean lol and that area is dense so they will be rubbing past a lot of brush.

Ah right. Thought it was early for them to be clean that’s all

 

[Tim.243]

Ok, I thought it might have been an older animal with a low bodyweight and poor head which I why I asked!

Is that kind of head good for a yearling or one that needed taking out?

Take no notice of Peter, Sandy just keep shooting deer. Re weight I just weighed a muntjac doe dressed from last night @10.9 Kg

 

[Sandy25]

Take no notice of Peter, Sandy just keep shooting deer. Re weight I just weighed a muntjac doe dressed from last night @10.9 Kg

Yes boss will do

Had a MJ as well from the same bit of ground this morning which weighed in at 8kg so you are well ahead there…..