If you see a 1.5yo or 2.5yo 10pt etc... I'd try to avoid shooting them and let them do more breeding.
I think this is what happens, a hunter sees a nice 2.5yo 10pt and thinks it's a monster/older deer than it really is and shoots it, not all the 2.5yo 8pts are left and do the breeding, hence we have 8pts all over.
From what I gather about our area, it seems whatever the buck shows at 2.5yo is what he'll show the rest of his life... an 8pt will always be an 8pt etc... they may grow some stickers etc... but main frame from what I've seen over the years remains the same.
Originally Posted by
kenified06
The genetics here are pretty bad. All mature deer seem to be 8 pointers and I haven't seen anything bigger than the bucks in those pictures in many years. All three deer I have mounted are 8's and all are similar. I set up a few mineral sites this past spring and will plant some type of food plot this spring. I have a feeling I'm just going to be growing bigger 8's though.. Which is ok by me. Maybe one day some big boys will wander in here and mix up the gene pool a little. Never have in my 20 years of hunting here but heck anything is possible.