One day I’ll no longer be a prisoner of gravity

Yearlings:

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Bodies still squareish, muzzles still short, ears still a little too big

Bucks' antlers range from spikes to multi-point racks, but the main beams rarely reach past their ears

Bucks appear similar to does aside from antlers; no neck thickening or tarsal gland staining during rut

Usually the first to emerge into open areas; still far less cautious than mature deer. Enjoy playing

Does might still follow their mothers, bucks travel alone or with other yearling bucks (though might hang around does outside of the rut)

Mature does:

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Long muzzles, rectangular bodies

The older a doe gets, the more her stomach sags and her back bows

Old does begin to lose body condition and might gray around the muzzle

Highly cautious. Sneak into open areas, always on alert; probably the first to spot or smell you

Can be aggressive and pushy towards younger deer, might even strike at them with their hooves; a mature doe in her prime is typically the most dominant

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2 year old bucks:

Rectangular bodies, more muscle definition than yearlings

During the rut, necks swell slightly, but are still thin

Legs still look long, tarsal glands somewhat darker

3 year old bucks

Most change between years. Athletic build, chest is lower than waist line. Well-muscled, looks like a jock; physique is often compared to racehorses

Necks are thick and swollen during the rut, but there's still a notable line meeting the shoulders

Legs look proportionate, tarsal glands are stained

More cautious, but get highly aggressive towards other bucks during the rut

4 year old bucks:

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Slight pot-belly, but the back remains straight. Chest and waist line are level

Very swollen necks during rut, blending into the shoulders

May develop a Roman nose

Legs look proportionate or stocky. Dark tarsal glands, staining down the leg during the rut

Cautious of open areas, but also more dominant

5-6 year old bucks:

Photo by Wyman Meinzer

Sway-backed, pot-bellied and thickly built. As with does, their stomachs sag and their backs bend more with age

Massive necks, blending into the shoulders and chest. The skin appears looser the older the buck is

Face markings might get darker, Roman nose more obvious. Likely accumulating scars and notched ears

Legs appear short and skinny compared to the body, dark tarsal glands and a lot of staining during rut

Slightly narrowed eyes

Extremely cautious, rarely enter open areas

These bucks move slowly and purposefully, plodding rather than tiptoeing

More active at night or just before dawn

The most dominant and breed the most often

7+ year old bucks:

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Unicorns. Between hunting/predation, vehicle collisions, illness, and the stress of rutting, bucks rarely make it to this age in the wild

Visibly grizzled and scarred with poor body condition; sunken waists, angular hips and shoulders. Faces also begin to sag and the jowls become more prominent. Noticeable skin flap under the chin connecting to the neck

Less antler regularity, especially in bucks over 8 years old -- underdeveloped, asymmetrical and/or wavy