VA maybe the 5 year old buck made it that long because everyone was shooting the smaller bucks first! If they waited he may have been doomed! If you shoot a 1.5 buck that hasn't mated yet how does that effect the herd any different then taking the big boy who has? Either way there is one less buck making babies! The real control of the herd size is in the doe numbers if you ask me. They are the real baby makers. 1 buck can mate with quite a few does each year. Take a buck and another will knock up the does that the dead buck would have. Take the doe and thats the end of that baby maker PERIOD! Limit the number of doe's or the number of deer period if you want more deer next year. Age doesn't make a difference in the long run. Taking a young doe that didn't mate has little effect on this or next year but she would have made quite a few babies down the road. Taking any buck has the same effect no matter what.(besides good and bad genes). Less bucks means more mating for the rest of them. Doe's will go back into season 3 or 4 times if not yet knocked up and even a tired worn out buck has a hard time passing on a doe in season! IMO doe's hold the key to herd size! We as hunters just have to hope the people in charge are making up these bag limits to better the herd and not just to better thier income! VA your property sounds great! If you ever need a hand looking for some of those big boy's I'm sure I could lend you a hand LOL! I promise to pass on the little guy's! ...