I am not a pro., but from my understanding age can effect the rack. A deer reaches a peak in life just like humans, we are probably are strongest between 20 and 35. Then age starts creeping up on us just like with deer we loose some strength each year. the deer looses the same way, if he doesn' t get enough protein etc... then his rack will not grow also. So lets take a deer at the age of 4- 6 he might be a 12 point. Now lets say this deer can live to be 12 he would probably only be a 6 point. Age, nutrition, conditions(weather, range), etc... all play a part in a bucks rack. This is just my 2 cents, someone else may be able to explain it better.