2.5 Would you mind telling me what exactly your theory is?

Do a little research on the results of Mississippi's antler restrictions and you will find exactly what you have "theorized". There are more mature bucks with their antler restrictions, but they are smaller than the mature bucks they were killing before the antler restrictions.

. . . . . but I feel like Wes is tricking us somehow!

The rack is usually the first thing a hunter looks at before he decides to harvest an animal if they are hunting a buck.

What is it BSK says, "A yearling buck looks like a doe with antlers."?

...quite a few of them see impressive headgear and shoot away hoping that the deer will measure legal minimum and never give age a second thought. Quite a few of our deer don't meet minimum size restrictions but do meet the "or 4.5 years old or older" requirement so they simply luck out on a legal buck. I'm betting in the last 4 years not over 3 bucks were shot based on age.

. . . . . . although nothing about antler growth over a lifetime is guaranteed, I'm noticing that most very large-antlered mature bucks started out as large-antlered 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old bucks. If hunters kill the largest-antlered 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old bucks, they are removing the very bucks that have the highest odds of being spectacular bucks at maturity.

I agree with everything you've said but I don't see a remedy. I don't think that the majority of hunters give a flip about how old a buck is when they shoot him or even learning to age a deer on the hoof.

. . . . again, just sharing some of my experiences (and frustrations!) . . . . .

I agree Mike, I doubt there is a solution, except for those managing large properties where mature bucks with large antlers is the goal. In those situations, the hunters will have to learn to specifically protect the largest antlered 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year-old bucks.

The farm I hunt has great neighbors but we still have tons of neighbors that high grade and shoot the absolute best 2 year olds we have almost yearly but we still have a few deer get to 4.5 that turn out to be monsters. We also have a lot of deer that don't amount to squat when they reach 4.5

So in my opinion there is absolutely no solution to high grading. It is completely in the hands of the hunter at the time of the encounter.

Valid point that I doubt is easily determined. My point being that it seems that hunting may be altering the genetics of our herd over long periods of time more than we realize. Interesting to think about, but probably exceedingly difficult to document.

I will have to agree that buck is likely 2.5 and just a lil above average for his age and the area he lives in. I also agree that high grading is something that happens anywhere deer hunting is taking place on a wide scale public frame. Too many hunters dont care anything about age and simply are happy with any deer having antlers that fit their agenda. I also disagree that we have, and are killing, less truly big bucks (150+) now than we were several years ago before so many started passing yearlings. I think hunting in TN is the best it has ever been in modern times RIGHT NOW, big antlered bucks included. Actually no comparison, as we are killing WAY more truly top end antlered bucks right now than we ever have in TN.

Wes,

Look at his black chin-strap. That's a coloration pattern that stays the same for life, and the two bucks have very different chin-straps.

How do you guys get bucks to stop running long enough to make an accurate judgement of their age?? My typical buck encounter lasts about 5 seconds if that and I shoot most on the run just before they vanish into thick cover.

Corn piles, duh! Kidding.. Try the most obvious technique.. "MAAAAAAA!!!" If that doesn't wotk simply yell "if you don't stop, I will kill you." He should listen

Wes,

Look at his black chin-strap. That's a coloration pattern that stays the same for life, and the two bucks have very different chin-straps.

BSK,

Could you elaborate more please?
I've believed all the above pics to be of the same buck.