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RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

What does eveyone think "maturity" means? Physically mature?Sexually mature?Anterlymature? They all come at different ages.

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

Mike welcome to my world here the last couple weeks buddy.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: dukemichaels

I don't even understand some of the answer's. The whitetail biologists have said time and time again that a whitetail reaches maturity at 3.5 yrs.

I understand that many of us like to pass on them and give them at least 1 more season. But facts are that a whitetail will reach maturity at 3.5 yrs... science says this.

There is no "in my woods"... or "where I hunt".. a 3.5 yr. old is a mture animal. Will he put on more pounds, muscle and inches as he/she gets older.. yes he/she will.

A whitetail will reach maturity at 3.5 yrs. period.

I don't understand all the "I thinks".....

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

In PA that is mature, and darn near geriatric. So yes.

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

Quote:

ORIGINAL: dukemichaels

I don't even understand some of the answer's. The whitetail biologists have said time and time again that a whitetail reaches maturity at 3.5 yrs.

They are getting paid to say that !! ;) :D

We aren't... 4.5 [8D]

Tim

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

3.5 is my target age and I've been successful at taking 3.5 year olds on 4 of my last 6. The other 2 being 2.5, one being my birthday buck that 12.5 spike x 4.

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

I would have to say yes its prime age for here !

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

I use to shoot 3.5 year olds, I dont consider it being mature. Its more like a older teenager I think. Im not saying there is anything wrong with shooting them, I personaly try and hold out for something in the 4.5 to 5.5 year old range.

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

Quote:

Do you have any other reasons to believe a buck is mature at 3.5 besides what a biologist thinks? Some of these same scientist can't judge a tooth on age. The DNR biologist headquarters in Minnesota gets our bear teeth every year and they send us a management patch back along with the age of our bear. Many times these people have been way off from the actual age. For example my biggest bear was 325lbs dressed with a 20 5/16 inch skull. They told me he was a 4.5 year old bear, yeah right! That bear was all of 12 years old minimum! Another one weighed 150 lbs, they told me he was 1/2 years old, thats a cub for crying out loud! That bear was 3.5 to 4.5! These scientist or biologist don't cut it with me on the aging of any animals so why should I consider they know what Is mature or not! Really what is mature? Breeding wise? A buck can breed at 1.5 years old, thats pretty mature if you ask me. I'll stick to my 4.5 as being mature but I'm not going to say your wrong as believing 3.5 is mature, you may be right and you have good reasons for it as I do with mine. When it comes right down to it most dedicated hunters got a heck of allot more good info on the animals we've been hunting for years and know whats going on then some of these guys sitting in there labs thinking all day.

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Schultzy

Quote:

Button bucks can breed. I supposein a sense he is amature buck!! [&:]

I would have thought the biologists would havewentby skeletal growth for determining maturity. At 4.5 theskeletal frame workof a buck is still growing but finallyslowing down. Not at 3.5 years old.

Usually a buck has it largest rack between 5.5 -6.5 years old whilein his prime.

I wonder where they get a 3.5 as being a mature buck. You are usually just getting to see what his potential might be.

Tim

RE: Another twist on "mature" bucks

You know what I love... people who actually believe they know more than the men and women who spend there entire lives studying whitetail. I am not talking bears.. I am talking whitetail. The most notable experts in the field, and they have been studying whitetail for well over 20 years (some in excess of 30+), call a 3.5 yr. old mature. BOTTOM LINE.

It makes no difference what you believe.. what you consider.. what you pass on to hold out another year... that's not the biological definition of a mature whitetail.

The question was if a 3.5 yr. old was mature.. the answer is simple.. YES. And so is a 4.5.. a 5.5.. ETC ETC.

The question is not what your opinion of a mature deer is.. too often RACK is placed on age and maturity.. that is and never will be the case. Once a deer reaches 42 months he/she is mature. If you choose to pass on him/her.. great... but it does not change the fact that a 3.5 yr. old still is mature.

I am 27 yrs... and by all considerations.. at maturity (although my wife disagree's). Some of you gentlemen are pushing 40 yrs. 45 yrs. 50 yrs. and guess what you are at maturity too.

And furthermore, about most all whitetail biologists, they hunt them too.