I hate to see young bucks get shot, or young does. I liken it to children that still need the guidance of their parents before they are pushed out into the real world. So I pass on immature deer. Personally I find no satisfaction in shooting a young buck or doe, they are niave and uneducated. I fill my freezer every season with deer and elk. I will only harvest a mature buck, mature doe and mature elk whether it be a cow or bull. I almost feel sorry for the youngsters as I see them making dumb mistakes. I go so far as to spook the crap out of them just so they get educated a tad.

As for antler score, I love big mature bucks that have been educated,. yet I could care less if he scores 125-190 as long as hes 3.5 years or older. ( I used 125 as a starting point since most bucks here that make 3.5 generally gross that ) These mature animals force you to do the little things right. They make you a better bowhunter imo. They don't make the same mistakes on the average that a younger doe or buck makes. At the end of Elk season, I am always happy to harvest a BIG OLE COW elk over a small bull. I see in my neck of the woods a lot of hunters that JUST have to have a bull, no matter how old he is, just to say "I KILLED A BULL" and the same with bucks. "I KILLED A BUCK". Well I would much rather kill a DOE OR COW for the meat than to kill a young buck/bull or young doe/cow. If your a MEAT hunter you don't NEED TO KILL a buck or bull ...The does and cows eat just as well or better. As for young hunters, like my sons coming up, I would encourage them to take any animal they had a good shot on.