what is an average deer for most of you guys in your local hunting areas?
I hunt locally and the avg deer is actually only a 1.5 year old buck.. sometimes a 2.5 year old. Hunting pressure is crazy around here... and there are big chunks of land w/ very little agriculture. As bad as it sounds, any deer with the bow is good around here in MA or NY.
I do go out to Western NY every year and hunt with a guy who intensely manages a couple thousand acres. He wants nothing but 3.5 year olds shot that generally go P&Y or better. I have hunted there 6 years and shot 3 very nice bucks, a cull buck, and took a 2.5 year old by accident one year. It happened so fast.
CT has alot of deer, but I rarely see big ones..