Look for incredible neck swelling, legs that look way too short for the body, and extreme staining of the tarsal glands. Definitive sagging of the belly will be visible and a sway in the back will be apparent. Many people refer to deer that reach this age class as resembling (in body shape) cattle.
Likewise, people ask, can you age a deer by its face?
Its head should appear too small for the massive, bulging neck. Face. The narrow, slim, long-nosed look of youth is gone from most old buck’s faces. If the nose looks broad and short, perhaps even “Roman nosed,” chances are it’s an older deer.
Beside above, how can you tell if a buck is mature?
Belly: The stomach may sag slightly, with a waistline level with or lower than the chest. Eventually, an old buck shows a full-blown potbelly. Legs: A mature buck’s legs appear either well proportioned to the body or a little short. Tarsal glands become very large and dark during the rut.