Same here you kill a mature 5 plus year old deer in Alabama big rack or not he’s mature and smart. He’s seen probably more pressure than most deer in any other state and you can outsmart him to me that’s a big deal. You wanna learn about management go to Texas and hunt down there. The guys I hunt with are big on management and shoot nothing but mature deer on free range land.

Option 1. I feel that he has potential to induce pedicle damage on younger bucks with better potential. Plus it’s another mouth to feed. Given the option to shoot a 5+ year old sporting 100” of antler and a 3 year old with 120” of antler I’m shooting the older deer.

I don’t think there are any five year old bucks much less does in my area. The cars and trucks kill most of the deers in my area, meat hunters get the remaining.

I would have to change areas lol.

It’s all about the area you hunt I guess. I could have killed 3 different 5+ year old bucks with inferior racks this year. And when I say inferior racks I’m not talking about deer that are 120”. I’m talking about deer that might get to 100”. Early season around here they aren’t real hard to outsmart. Now I guess I should also say that we haven’t seen 2 of those bucks since mid December. So they got pushed out or moved on to less pressured places I guess.

That’s a good point. Thanks for your input Matt. It’s always valued and appreciated.

The pedicle damage to younger bucks is a view I haven’t heard. I agree I would shoot a 5 year old over a 3 year old in any case. A dead 3 year old always hurts my heart a little 😂

👍👍👍

Rack means nothing. Big mature deer gets a bullet.

I have personally witnessed mature trash push younger deer with potential out of an area so.... If he is 5+ and lacking in horns....he gone.

Matt, is killing every 5 plus year old buck on your property a problem and a legitimate concern? I see both sides to this dilemma. If it were your property and you were managing it for trophy antlers, what would you do? Kill the older “culls” or let them live?

[img][](https://tinypic.host/image/IMG-2166.2clDOw) [](https://tinypic.host/image/IMG-2165.2clBMv)[/img]
This one was here last year and he’s gonna be smoked if my little girl can get on him.
He’s been here all season, except a week or two.

Ok how old???

Wow..... That one there been hitting the ROIDS.

What time of year was the pic taken and where? Hard to tell with a pic of him with his head down and back bowed. Got anymore pics of him?

Bout a month ago. Not puffed up for rut. I’m sure I’ve got other pics I’d just have to go looking.

I’m gonna say 3 or 4 but looks 3 to me in that pic. Hard to say with him in that position though. It’s hard to judge a deer correctly on 1 pic in my opinion.

Different deer same question. I ask this because this property we have only shot 3 bucks off of over 6 years. I know there are bucks that are 6+ on this property.

Now see I would’ve told u this buck is 4-5 based off my pics from years ago.

Bcbama260 I’m not understanding the point you are trying to make?

Just curious, how big is the property you keep referencing?