Dang thats a hog. I have a hard time believing a deer could get that big by 2.5. That thing has to be pushing 300lbs live weight. What in the world you feeding them deer?

I loved hunting TN when I lived there. That is a hog. I would guess 3.5 with age. I bet is BP is through the roof. Better not spoke him going into your stand he might have a heart attack.

Also I agree your son can make his own choices. People hunt for different reasons.

Agreed, and I also would have been proud of a young son that had let two bucks walk for the sake of QDM.

Many don't have that option. Four seasons ago I could take a buck, and four antler-less deer. After a few tough Winters, this year I can take one deer of either sex. It's nice when you have the option, but some here in MN only hunt a two week rifle season, and many of them may only be able to hunt the weekends. For some, to let a buck like that walk may be letting their only chance that season walk away.

That's a big sucker but he wouldn't be legal in PA due to antler restrictions.

I"ve shot some old bucks, 6.5, 5.5, 4.5 , 3.5 ( 2) and a few 2.5 yr olds, never had one that after skinning smelled musky or tasted any different

That is a PIG of a deer, he has a 7.5 yr old body and a 2.5 yr old nose ?

Wow.. if you guys every kill that thing I'd love to send a tooth off to have it aged..

I had a 9 point buck I shot under after hitting a weed a couple years ago, on video ( why do you always get perfect video of yoru misses ? LOL) but he had a huge body like this, but I was sure he was just 2.5 or 3.5.. maybe 130 gross...

Now I did shoot him for the body size.. I try to shoot bigger bodied mature deer, I love the racks but as long as they are over 125" and I got my bow its a shooter

I will say , not trying to start anything, that letting this dude walk is only letting his genetics continue on.. its a hard line.. to let it walk in hopes of a better or help the herd out and take it out.. especially before breeding season.

Personally I don't care what people shoot or pass.. as long as they are legal

you can just look at the jaw and see how old it is...no need to send off a tooth..

Well at least he now has a name, a bud on another site saw these pics & said if left to grow he'll become a "Mack truck" so Mack it is!

That's my take on it, if he doesn't put on mass next year (he looks 2.5 yrs to me), he get's the arrow or the bullet. A big part of QDM is knowing when to drop the string on a weak genetic buck. Maybe TN is my retirement state.

I would say that deer is older than what everyone is thinking. I say 5.5 years at least. You really cant go by antler size. He has the big barrel chest and the belly sags.