Scott: There's no wrong answer to shooting either one of them. But the same type question could be asked of you....if we simply leaveALL the inches of antler out of the scenario.
Which is a bigger "trophy".....a 1.5yr old or a 3.5 yr old (or insert any age discrepancy you feel bolsters your argument)? I would "think"....to the "true" "mature buck hunter" (and not the antler hunter).....the age class of the deer would detemrine the answer.
If you're an antler hunter.....you can leave the maturity of the animal out of the equation. You just happen to live in an area of the country where the two aren't mutually exclusive......but rather go hand in hand.
Shoot me for saying this but I think it would depend on location..... I think a 2.5 y/o MI public land buck would be more of a trophy than a unpressured midwest 3.5 y/o....
Now back to the inches
A 200 inch deer is very rare... No matter the age class..... A 140 inch deer is not near as rare... Again, no matter the age class.....
Regardless of age class, the 200 inch deer is more of a trophy to me as it is much more rare.
In either of the above scenarios, age was not the determining factor for "trophy" statusto me.
I can agree however if there is no freak status to either... A 5.5 y/o is more of a trophy than a 3.5 y/o. Point conceded.
Is a 6.5 y/o NC buck more of a trophy than the 4.5 y/o Hanson buck?
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