According to biologists.. and I agree. A whitetail will reach maturity at 3.5 yrs. and older.

So do we who feel a buck must reach 4.5 or greater believe we are smarter than the very scientists who study them?

I voted 3.5 cause GregH voted 3.5! Seriously, 3.5 is when their antlers start to really "fill" out, and body mass is fully developed. Not to say they dont get bigger, they just "fill" out. That would be the bottom end mature, but 4.5 is a better age. Not that many live to be that old here though.

i'd say 3.5

Duke.....I happen to agree with you (and, I suppose....all the biologists).

The question wasn't asking at what age a whitetail reaches his "peak". It was intended to ask at what age we consider him "mature". You saw it for that.

Blinded me with science. Who sang that?

Thomas Dolby

I voted 3.5 also. 3.5 here is an ancient deer, but in general that is when their growth matures (note that is not their peak, but maturity). There is a very big jump in antler development from 2.5 to 3.5. 4.5 year olds are most certainly bigger than 3.5 year olds, but the jump is not as significant in most cases. I believe that deer peak around 5.5, but finding one of those in PA that is actually visible is very difficult.

poetry in motion.... do da do da doooo.....

Yeah, its like a kid who's 18. Fully developed? Yes. Totally completely at the top of his game? Not even close.

My vote goes for 3.5