The following is from a wildlife biologist friend of mine:

"From a biology viewpoint, maturity in a deer is sexual maturity. Thus, half of our doe fawns are mature at 6 months. I really don’t think any button bucks breed, so their maturity most likely occurs at 1 ½ years old.

As hunters, we’re more interested in when they reach their peak body weight and antler growth. This is not a science question. I think it’s generally believed that deer have their best antlers somewhere in the 3.5 to 5.5 year old range.

We just arbitrarily say they are mature at that age."

That pretty much sums it up for me. We are arguing when they are their "biggest" not when they are actually mature.

I think you guys are bickering oversemantics - the age of "maturity" is a fuzzy line, one which even the mostreasonable, competentbiologists could disagree or dispute.

Approach this from another angle: At what age does a human reach "maturity." Is "maturity" the age of reproductive capability? Is it a mental status? Is it the age of top physical condition? Can it vary between people?

The answer is: There is no right answer. We can flesh out those areas where almost everyone is in agreement, but once you go down the timeline, things become increasingly muddled.

Is a button buck mature? No.
What about a yearling? If we're basing it on reproductive capacity, then yes, but I'd surmise that most of youwould say no.
2.5? Things start to get muddy...
3.5? Maybe.
4.5? More than likely.
5.5+? Almost everyone would agree that by this time, the animal has matured.

Look at our own medical profession. Two highly-esteemed, competent MD's can look at an MRI film and arrive at two conflicting opinions regarding the same set of data. One guy sees an asymptomatic bulge. The other guy sees an operable herniation.

I think that's where we're at with this "maturity" discussion.

And that is why I shoot the big ones or none at all

Does it really matter? If a 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 year old deer is mature to you, then take him. I believe what some of the hunters are meaning when they say in my area a 3 1/2 yr. old is mature, is if they don't take that deer, they will probably never see him again. Most hunters don't have enough land, if any, to grow and manage trophy bucks. A 3 1/2 yr. old buck is a mature enough deer to take for most hunters. I'll take a nice 2 1/2 yr. old if given the chance. I own land, but not enough to be confident that a 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 yr. oldbuck will remain there. They are going to travel and I guarantee most will be shot by another hunter. It might as well be me taking that nice 2 or 3 1/2 year old buck rather than someone else. Now I'm not saying I will take every 2 1/2 yr. old buck that walks by, but if he has a nice rack, then I probably will. I supposeif you are a trophy guru, then a 3 1/2 yr. old buck is not mature enough for you, and that's perfectly fine,but for most of us hunters, a 3 1/2 yr. old will do just fine. Is a 3 1/2 yr. old buck mature to me? I'll just say if he walks by me, there's a real good chance he won't make it to 4 1/2.

This is the original Q.. the answer is yes. No more I think's.. or where I hunt's.. the most notable scientists in the world believe that YES this is a mature deer.

That's it.. I'm out. This thread is now hurting my head.

I agree with Duke! ...... Can I get the Rage deal Germ got now?

Believe it or not Duke..I agree with ya..But not in absolute's! I just have issue when someone claims to have the answer to trump all answers.. You simply don't!

And as a caveat..I'm one who could care less..I don't hang birth certificates on my walls. [:-]

I feel ya Preach..talk about bad timing to disagree with someone...

If a deer is 4 1/2, how old is that in human years?? [:-]

Hey Duke, thanks for citing sources......I'll change my answer from 4.5 to 5.5 yrs old because "I think" the rack is bigger "in my woods" at that age.