To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I posted a question a while back in which I got a little grief about. The scenario I proposed was one which had a 2-1/2 yr old 10 point (150") and an old 5-1/2 yr old with a diminished or inferior rack uner your tree and broadside @ 15 yds. I asked which one you'd take (to the people who purport to hunt "trophy"/"Mature" whitetails.

I think the answer to this question, when answered honestly, is pretty eveident......and I've got the EXACT scenario I presented, to a lesser degree. I have a nice little 8-pointer with a perfectly symmetrical rack under my tree on Saturday (likely a 1-1/2 yr old)......and a MUCH older 5 pointer with a rack that is poisoning the gene pool (a LOT of the little bucks around here look like him). I came to full draw on the 8....without taking him......and I questioned my thinking when I got home. I felt kinda bad about what I was was thinking. I didn't like it. THE thing to do is to take the old guy out of the gene pool (in my eyes).

Any thoughts? Anybody else have a similar situation? Any of you trophy guys wanna chime in? Is this a fair question? Was my original scenario a fair question (It got little response).

Jeff

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Although I am not a "trophy" hunter,( I believe at this point in my journey that any deer taken with a bow is a trophy), I think the older more mature deer would be my choice. That buck being older and wiser would be a greater accomplishment than the younger buck therefore a greater trophy.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I don't think I would classify myself as a trophy hunter, although I have killed some nice deer. In the first scenerio, I would take the 150" buck, although, I doubt seriously if I would ever see a 2 1/2 year old buck with a 150" rack. If I saw one with a rack like that, I would probably assume he was older.

In the second scenerio, neither deer would be a wall hanger, so I would have to decide based on whether I needed the meat that much. In that case, a doe would seem to be the better choice.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Actually that older buck is not really poisoning your gene poll. I just read where the younger bucks do much more of the breeding than the old ones. The old guy 5+ yearsmay breed 1-2 does a year and the young guys are running dipping thier wicks in 5-7. Check out this months Peterson Bowhunting for the story.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

150'' 2 1/2 year old, have to let him grow, LOL

If they were both in front me at the same time I would take the 150'' without hesitation.

I have in past taken an older buck with a small rack, at this stage in my hunting life I will not. The neighbors or my uncle will shoot him during gun season.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I believe some people are missing the point of "trophy hunting". The object is to shoot a deer that is FULLY GROW AND REACHED HIS POTENTIAL. Shoot the older deer whenever possible. Pass on deer that will grow. Here is what makes big bucks:

Nutrition
Age(5-6)
Genes

Deer with these things will be bigger than you ever expected!!!!
Good luck and besure to take pictures!!!!!

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

The older buck will do little breeding, especially with an inferior rack like that in comparison to the younger one. It's your tag, shoot the one you like. Personally, I would take the one that presented the best shot, if they are both of reasonable maturity as you say. I doubt that you will see his offspring in your area. Bucks disperse from their native range to avoid inbreeding.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

That is a fact. Just like middle aged men, middle aged bucks lose interest somewhat in chasing after tail. They will take it if it is laying in front of them, but that is about it. When a buck gets OLD, he will not breed at all.
This has been studied and proven.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I appreciate the information. Almost all of the youngsters look like him (racks). I guess I should take one of them.....

I just had a great idea!

My son has 2 tags!

Jeff

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

SBG...Hunting for me is about having fun and doing what you want to do...I am lucky in that my family has 3 farms in eastern NC....I do like to kill good bucks...But the reality is that we need to take 40-50 deer a year on our farms to keep the population in check...We have recently changed farmers that tend our land (after about 25 years of having the same farmer)....The reason is this guy was spotlighting deer in the summer, shooting them in the guts, so they wouldn't fall in the field....This farmer hates deer because of the crop damage....As I am from a larger family and have plenty of nephews/nieces/cousins/ buddies etc I get a kick out of helping them kill deer every year...On many occasions I have passed on a buck and set them up in the stand the next day to let them kill him...I have killed hundreds of deer, we eat them all, or give them to a needy family...

One thing that I need to point out...unless you have big tract of land, management of a deer herd is very hard to do....We have noticed that when we keep the does in check that we do see more bucks during the rut looking for does....My point to all this is enjoy the time in the woods....If that nice 8 point is a good buck for you, don't feel bad about taking him...Its also hard to tell what that older buck was like a couple of years ago...He may have good genes but as you know nature and old age takes its toll...Just ask any guy over 50...:D

I see guys all the time that are "Big Buck Hunters"...They feel that their manhood relies on them killing a big buck every year...and when the opportunity comes (especially with a bow) they blow it...In my opinion, their is nothing wrong with taking does and getting your act together so when that buck does present a good shot you have enough experience to take care of business...Good Luck and have fun....

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I believe you are mistaken thinking the 5 point is MUCH older. Old deer almost ALWAYS grow an impressive rack. Unless injured I'm guessing your 5 pointer is either just a larger bodied yearling or a 2 year old. Chances of a 5 year old with a tiny 5 point rack are next to ZERO IMO.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I believe this was your comment on a reply to another members question..

"Shoot whatever makes you happy and will be proud of" or "only you can answer that question"

So my question to you is...why doesn't your own answer apply to your question?

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

My thoughts exactly. However, everyone seems to think that 2.5 and 3.5 year old bucks have reached their full potential. People a whitetail deer does not reach his full potentian and is not fully mature until around age 6. After that they usually start declining a bit.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I agree 100%

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Kroje:

That's why I'm asking the question! If I thought shooting the old guy was the right thing to do.....it would make my decision a lot easier. I'd "like" to shoot an 8-pointer. I've never shot an 8-pointer. But....if it would help out with the deer herd around here.....I'd like to take the "right" deer for the herd. I'd like to educate myself to the best of my (and everyone here's) ability.....and THEN make an eductated decision.

If this deer's a 2.5 yr old......then he's either a very odd deer.....or all of my other bucks I'm seeing are 1.5. He's much darker coated in pigment.....and his muzzle is very greyish.

Tell ya what.....I'm gonna continue to pass on him.....and we'll talk about him next year if he makes it through gun season. I'm all for an experiment!

Jeff

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I'm pretty darn certain that most of the bucks I see when hunting are one and a half. I don't know where you hunt, but I believe this is the case in many areas. I'd also be surprised that a 5 year old deer would only grow 5 points unless there is something wrong with it. IMHO, it's difficult to age a more mature buckon the hoof anyway unless you live in an area where 5 and 6 year old bucks are commonand you see them all the time. Around here, 5 1/2 year old deer are rare and if that's what I held out for, I'd never get a deer.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I hunt my families land and it is not alot. I have access to 240 acres so I have to do what I can. That being said there is no way I would pass up what I considered a nice buck. The thought of he "might" be around next year is not near what the thought of "he probably won't" be around next year is. If I don't take him then someone will. It might be another hunter, a poacher, or someone in their car. The chances of a deer making it to 4 or 5 in my area is not real good.So I think all the answers to this have varying situations that must be taken into account.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

SB
young deer can have some gray on them and be dark colored. Color is not even in my criteria when I try to field age a deer. body size, rack size(mass especially), and body shape. 1.5 yr old bucks around here can go from spikes to 12" 8's. once a deer gets old, he's going to be impressive.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Deer color / muzzle color has nothing to do with age. A gray face on a buck is not necessarily old...though it generally is older.

Many guys that are used to hunting yearlings with small racks have never seen a truely mature and therefore BIG buck. A yearling usually looks similar to a doe. When in rut the neck will swell and appear bigger. A 2 year old will have a larger body frame, but still be lean. Usually a bit front heavy. Even a 3 1/2 year old is still fairly sleek though at that age they are usually pretty muscular and very front heavy (with a huge rutting neck). Once a buck reaches 4 he gets very big and fills out all the way through. A 4 year old is no longer front heavy. At 5 and 6 a buck will develop the pot belly and these are the deer capable of going 250++ pounds. Most hunters will never encounter a truely mature buck. Many large racked deer are only 3 year olds.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Lol. Id take the younger one regardless of rack. I hunt for the better meat. Just like this weekend. I had a couple of giant mud movers with great big tusks(boar hogs) in a field and a few smaller ones. I arrowed the smallest, a 150lber because the meat is better. But to each his own. As long as the meat is not wasted for a set of antlers.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

My grampa is the same way, LOL
I put him on the biggest buck of his life 10 years ago, a button was with the buck. I said take'm Gramps, he shot the button[&:] I said "What in the heck did you do that for?" He looked at me "The little one's are better eating". I just smiled and pick his dog, oops deer up and drag him in.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Am I going to lose interest in chasing tail as I get older?

That makes me sad.:(

Please, I am mature enough, shoot me now. lol

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

In that situation, the 150 in deer would definately go down. I think a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. If a 125 in. deer is a trophy for the area you hunt than take him. I some states a deer that reaches this size is a trophy. Some people shoot every deer that walks by, and for a deer to make it through its first two years is rare.

In my case, in Illinois, I have the luxury or passing deer like this. In other states, in order to kill a "trophy" deer, I would be happy to take a deer that scores over 100 inches.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Well....in this area....I doubt anyone will ever see/harvest/hear of a 250lb deer, period.

I guess I don't know anything about deer aging (I mean that with no sarcasm). I guess ANY of the deer I'm seeing could be yearlings. When aging does I try to use their muzzle and body shape. I do the same with bucks. This deeris definitely more long than boxy.....more "wrestler" than "boxer"......and he simply appears to be older "looking" than the others. I appreciate everyone's insights. I'll continue to let him pass when I see him. Who knows what the future may bring for him???

Thanks, again.

jeff

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I'm sorry, but the answer is yes. You will.
You will talk about it MORE and do LESS.:D

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

I would kill the 150 no matter what.

RE: To all the "Mature Deer"/"Trophy" hunters
 

Are you guys aware that the Hanson buck was 3.5 years of age when harvested?