What's a mature buck?

[Law Firm]

Quote:

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A very small percentage of Minnesota bucks make it to a "mature" level, which I believe to be at least 3.5 years old. Most bucks shot are 1.5 years and 2.5 years old. It seems once they make it past that second season, they become extremely wary and therefore more difficult to kill.

That's a mature buck, now a trophy buck is whatever the hunters believes it to be. Two different subjects. The first has a definate answer, the second has many.

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Well said! Good topic here Nova. This conversation has evolved into what your definition of a trophy is. There are many factors to be considered here. I hunt in an area where deer are miles away from any type of agriculture to help supplement antler growth. In order for me to see a 160 class buck, there are many, many variables that would all have to come together perfectly. My personal goal in the area that I hunt is to get a 130. This may seem a little low to some of you, but this would be a trophy in my book.

[tripper]

To me a mature buck is the one I put in the freezer because he just isn't going to get any older. lol If I think it is more then a forker I take it. Where I hunt you dont get the time to count points,look at the back and belly or do any of that ageing and trophy sizzing stuff. Now if I was taking a test and had to pick one year I would say 3 1/2.

[fisherking01]

Mature according to the dictionary:

Complete and finished in natural growth and development.

Fully developed.

Yep you're right it's developed into opinions of trophy. There are many opinions on mature also, if you follow the dictionary meaning of mature, what do you get? You get a buck that has grown to it's potential.