How many believe that a 2.5 year old small rack deer will always be a small rack deer? For instance a 2.5 year old 4 point, he may eventually be an 8 point but do you think he will be a really big 8. I have always thought that a deer should be bigger than that at 2.5.

I have no idea how big a 2.5 year old 4 pointer might get if he lives another few years. I know exactly how big he will get if you kill him and put him in your truck.

A 2.5 year old 4 point to me isn't saying much I don't think. If he doesn't have hardly any stickers on his end forks or what not chances are he's not going to amount to much at least in the area I hunt. I would probably let him go another year and see what he does and decide then if he's one a person should take out.

I would wonder more about if you are aging that deer correctly than if it is a 2 1/2 year old and not a 1 1/2 year old 4 pt. WCL

Its body is too big to be a 1.5 year old. it probably weighs about 135 -140. Around here a 1.5 year old will weigh at 100 to 120 pounds. Also his bases were pretty big compared to a 1.5 year old I shot years ago.

Ic. Well do as you wish with the deer. Who knows if he will turn out. I know I woudln't shoot him cuz we only got one archery buck tag her in WI and I wouldn't waste it on him. Maybe Id crack him with the rifle cuz i dont care about gun hunting but youll have to decide if you think he will turnout or if you want to shoot him. WCL

Let him grow old and see. Too many people want to judge a buck's potential his first couple of years. He could have just been a really late birth and he will be "catching up". Who knows? All I know is that there is no real good reason to take him out. Remember, the buck only contributes 1/2 of the genes anyway and no one knows what he could develop into for sure.

If you only have one tag like I do here in PA, it doesn't matter to me what he may turn into, all I know is he is safe from me until he survives and makes it to 3.5 to 4.5, at that time, there won't be any questions as to if he is gonna pan out. And if he hasn't, he will still be a trophy for his age and ability to survive. Good luck.

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I try to equate us humans as an example to this theory...
Most male teenagers go thru puberty, on average, between 13-14.
Some boys are younger and some are a little older.
In fact I've seen a kid from my high school graduation that was 5' 7" tall, grow 6" within a year of our graduation,
he is now 6' 1" - fully grown, who would have known.
So your question about the 2 1/2 old scenario is a good "average" to see the nice rack growing potential.
Remembering that some 1 1/2 year olds can have nice baskets or may only have small, stuby, spindley spikes.
Some 2 1/2 olds can only have a small basket or can have 8 points and 17-18" wide rack with 8" tines.

Second part is genetics... My father was 5' 5" and mommy is 4' 10", so I guess how tall I am???!!!
Should I be culled??!!!!