Hey Duke ..as a HNI STAFFER you should know what articles your site publishes and what the Biologists claim on your site??
"Essentially immature refers to yearling bucks, those which are 1 1/2 years old; almost mature refers to the 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year olds; mature refers to the 4 1/2 to about 6 1/2 year olds; and old to those 7 1/2 years old and older. Unfortunately in a lot of whitetail country, hunters even today will see hardly any bucks that could even be classified as mature. But thankfully things are changing. "
That's an interesting article... and no I've never read it. I wonder who it's authored by.. I don't see a name. It's very possible an article written not by one of the more well known biologists.. don't you agree? Maybe even not written by a biologist.. last I checked HNI does not have one to pay.
If I had the time and the inclination I would bring you the quote's by such notable biologists as Dr Len Rue.. Dr Grant Woods.. Dr Charles Alsheimer..ETC.
I'm sorry for breaking the news.. but it's easy to read an article.. but to read an article by a top professional in the industry is completely different. And you could be right.. maybe they are wrong.. However.. until they all agree otherwise.. their opinion's are what matters.. their what drives state biologists.. laws and antler restrictions.. and QDMA as we know it. A 3.5 yr. old is considered a mature animal.