I've killed plenty of 5 + year old 200lbs+ deer . They all had crappy racks. Meat is tough, ok for hamburger and sausage. If I see a 130" deer, he gone, regardless of age. Has anyone ever seen a 2 year old deer in Alabama with 130"? Seems that would be extremely rare.

I'll bite on that question. Original question was a 130" 2 year old, not a world record, though.

Ordinary deer, I have passed at least 10 this year that were 3 years old, including 4 last week. 2 of those would have beat the older deer I shot by 15-20 inches of antler. I have also passed a few 4 year olds in Texas that had serious potential.

If he's 150" or better, I would absolutely shoot a 3-1/2 year old deer that's by himself on the property I currently hunt.

If I was on a place large enough to watch him grow, like the 5500 acre place I hunt in Laredo, I would pass him. Different world, different deer.

If I see a 180+" deer on property where it's legal for me to shoot him, I will probably not be checking for birthdays. I still prefer to target mature bucks, but deer over 180" are very rare outside a high fence.

I'd shoot the 130 inch 2 year old.

It depends on the mood I'm in, but I do love to watch them flop.

I shoot what suits me on my little place or hunting public ground. But as a guest, I always ask “What are we shooting?” I don’t want to be “that guy.”
Honestly, either buck you described sounds good to me.

I know enough about toothwear and replacement aging to know that the Milo Hanson deer was likely older than 3. Even the most knowledgeable biologists in the country will admit that aging technique is not to be fully trusted from 3+. I’ve aged deer that we had several years worth of pics of that aged at 3 and it was a factual impossibility. Probably the case there.

Personally, and I can’t speak for anyone but myself, book deer don’t interest me the way they once did. I used to think the standard was whether or not it made some book or achieved a certain status. It don’t matter. I want to hunt mature deer. I’m also not going to say I’m above killing the next world record because he’s not old enough. I have however set my standards as 4+. I let two bucks walk this year that would have been two of the largest I’ve ever killed with a bow in AL, and both would make P&Y. I decided not to lower my standards because of a calcium deposit on their heads. Don’t regret it one bit.

Shoot what makes you happy and to hell with anybody that doesn't agree with it. To answer the question, on public land I would shoot the deer with the biggest head gear. On private land where you may actually have a chance to see the younger deer again I shoot the older deer.

I shot a 6-1/2 year old doe once.
Oldest deer kilt on the place that year.

They are a renewable resource, shoot whatever makes you happy

I did this year, he disappeared before bow season started.

We try to only shoot mature bucks, but our out of state hunters that we host every year would opt for the bigger rack.

BTW, if you see the two year old that scores over 130 please take a picture and post it. That is a rarity.

There is no wrong or right answer to this question. I dont understand why people ask this? Everyone has their own likes. What does it matter? Perhaps to put trophy hunters vs meat hunters vs brown its down hunters at odds? I just enjoy the hunt and being in the woods. I shoot what ever legal deer im in the mood to shoot.

If you're the host, don't you get to set the standards for what is allowed to be shot. If a guest shoots a buck on our place that doesn't meet the criteria, the member bringing them is responsible for a fine. The quest wouldn't be welcome back. House rules, that's common courtesy

Sure its your land do what you want. Why do you care what others shoot or choose to do on their land? Do you try to influence others to hunt how you do? Or try and get laws passed to take deer that you think are acceptable? I wonder why people are so worried about what others think? I say to each their own. Just enjoy the hunt and quit worrying about what others say. The best deer I ever seen killed was a knot head. It was my sons first deer when he was nine. I have the photo of him smiling from ear to ear. That is what hunting is about to me.

Me and the guys I hunt with try our best to kill mature deer only. We have let a few walk that we thought were 3 year old deer that we killed later to find out they were a lot older than we thought just had small bodies and small racks. I know we quite often think a deer is 3 based on body size when he is really 4 or 5. I feel a lot of people do this. However I feel 90% at our place if a130"+ buck walks out he is probably gonna die, and I would guess at least 90% of the time that deer will be at least 4 if he scores over 130. 100% of the time a 200lb 8 point will get shot.