That "over thinking" has cost more than a few hunters a chance at a buck!

I've done that too! Here's last years brain fart! []

I've been following this post for a few days, My question is. What do we all agree onor consider as a mature buck?

Asteen andeven into my twenties as a hunter,I would consider any buck 3.5 or older as mature. Today I don't. Ihave a hard timebelieving a 3.5 year old buckin my woodsis there yet;bothbiologically/physiologically and from a experience/conditioning perspective.

I'll turn that back at ya, Troy. If I'm in a room fullof 10 yr olds.....I'm ANCIENT.

How many 3.5 yr olds do you think are in my woods?

"Mature" is relative

I'm betting if you polled 1000 deer hunters.....the % that said 3.5 was "mature" would be over 80.

True Jeff on the hunters, that's exactly my point... poll 10 noted whitetail biologists like Dr. James Kroll, David Morris etc.... and I bet 3.5 wouldn't.

I think it was Kroll, though, Troy....who had the article last year on "culling" deer. He said a whitetail deer's antler potential couldn't be realized until his 3rd set (3.5yrs).

Wouldn't it make sense the 3.5 would be "mature" at that point? Not saying he was at his full potential.....but mature, nonetheless.

Anyone?

Actually, I believe that Morris considers 3 1/2 to be the start of being mature. I guess I do too. However, I believe that a 3 1/2 is like a 22 year old kid compared to 37 to 45 year old men. No offense to anyone!

Yeah Greg, Morris wrote about in his books, but today I see him taking a different approach now that hes managing his own herd. Strictly from a biological perspective, I've read that a bucks skull plate doesnt full develope until he reaches 4.5

Greg, I couldnt agree more on your analogy of bucks to humans.. in age..

Greg....

I was gonna say that a 3.5 yr old deer is "mature" like a 21yr old human is.

First 3.5 yr old I see with a dikkiedoo and a comb-over.....I'll change my tune.

The reason I say this is because some of the 3 1/2s are physically large enough to play the game. They'll fight to breed and sometimes win that right over an older buck. Not many 2 1/2s in that arena. You have to start somewhere. Also, in some areas the 3 1/2 is king and does most of the breeding because he is the oldest in the herd.