You know what I love... people who actually believe they know more than the men and women who spend there entire lives studying whitetail. I am not talking bears.. I am talking whitetail. The most notable experts in the field, and they have been studying whitetail for well over 20 years (some in excess of 30+), call a 3.5 yr. old mature. BOTTOM LINE.

It makes no difference what you believe.. what you consider.. what you pass on to hold out another year... that's not the biological definition of a mature whitetail.

The question was if a 3.5 yr. old was mature.. the answer is simple.. YES. And so is a 4.5.. a 5.5.. ETC ETC.

The question is not what your opinion of a mature deer is.. too often RACK is placed on age and maturity.. that is and never will be the case. Once a deer reaches 42 months he/she is mature. If you choose to pass on him/her.. great... but it does not change the fact that a 3.5 yr. old still is mature.

I am 27 yrs... and by all considerations.. at maturity (although my wife disagree's). Some of you gentlemen are pushing 40 yrs. 45 yrs. 50 yrs. and guess what you are at maturity too.

And furthermore, about most all whitetail biologists, they hunt them too.