Regarding cut ears of mature bucks... if you kill a 4+ yr old buck, it would be unusual for him not to have one or both ears cut. I have seen some older mature bucks that have been killed that hung out by themselves (not a bachelor group) nor chased does and didn't lose their velvet until late. They've either had one testicle or no testicles and perfect ears, which makes sense about the bucks' chosen lifestyle. Low T!!
Anyway, I do believe that deer in a large enough enclosure are very hard to hunt. But these purchased bucks that are intended to be shot and are purchased TO BE SHOT and they just hang out and aimlessly mill about looking for an apple, is nothing to brag about. I would not do it.
