It just seems that I have a lot of 3 1/2yr olds with less than average size antlers and trying to make the decisions about which bucks need culling.

Im not a big buck specialist but it seems to me 3.5 is when they just start getting good.

As soon as they get shot

Dr. Kroll says they reach about 90% of their growth at 4.5. So that 4.5 150" puts on another 10% at 5.5 or by 6.5 thats 165"! From what I get, 5.5-6.5, if they ain't got it by then ,they will never have it.

If you don't have the nutrition for their bodies to function and grow properly, their antlers won't develop properly.

Feed the body first.

What they said.

Also if at 3.5 they are poor, you likely have some poor nutrition. Maybe they are some 2.5's?

Based on my personal camera studies over the past 5 years....they are at 85-90% of growth at 3.5....I've had one buck that would score higher at 3.5 than 4.5....So i think every deer is different....Again this is based on my camera surverys over a 5 year period on 240 acres....

Around here they continue to get bigger until they reach 6.5 years of age after that it seems to be all down hill.

I would say between 5 and 7 is the peak. At my house some deer add a ton of inches between 2 and 3 and again between 3 and 4. If I get a chance to shoot one that I think is 4 or older I do it.

What is average for your area? You may be surprised. You may be asking too much from your bucks antler growth. I doubt "culling" will work in your case, you gotta play the cards you 're dealt.

As far as highest % of growth from one year to the next, I would say 2to3 or 3to4.

One of the interesting aspects of antler studies from around the country is how different antler growth is by age. In TX studies, bucks peak in gross score at either 5 1/2 or 6 1/2. From what I have seen in the Southeast, I would put peak gross score at 6 1/2. However, with northern borealis sub-species of deer, bucks often don't grow their highest scoring antlers until 8 or 9 years of age.

The TX studies suggest--for that region (and every region will be different)--on average, 3 1/2s exhibit 80% of max potential and 4 1/2s exhibit around 93% of potential. My camera data for west-central TN suggests slightly higher at 3 1/2 (85% of potential).

No bucks "need" culling. You cannot "improve" the antler genetics of a localized area by culling smaller-antlered bucks.

I've always heard they start to decline at 7

I think I've read where a buck reaches over 90% of their potential at 4 but there is potential for a big jump from 3 to 4. I've seen a 3 year old on our place go from 130 to 160 at 4, but that's not the norm, unfortunately . Where we hunt a good 3.5 with potential will score around 120 and it wouldn't be unusual to see them at 130-140 the following year. This is not the "average" for us but average for the bucks with the most potential on our place.

Two well known biologist from auburn told me that deer do not fully mature until 5 1/2. So i would think that he needs ro reach at least 5 1/2. There are situatuion where that a deer rack might not get larger with age (disease,droughts,ect)

I've never seen, barring sickness or injury, a buck fail to gain mass and score from five to six to seven. I'd say if he's still gaining he ain't peaked......

Thing is, for those who want bigger racks, getting them to stay alive "from five to six to seven."

true they should continue to grow from 4 to 5 and 5 to 6, but for me I would take a buck any day at 4.5 and at 90%+ of their antler potential. Opportunities on a mature buck are few and far between, so managing for 5 year old plus bucks for us isn't realistic. Very few free range properties in Alabama can successfully manage for trophy/ 5 year old plus bucks. IMO

Exactly.