Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum points or age on bucks...

Do you manage your bucks based off of points...6 point or better, 8 point or better etc or age...3 1/2 or older, 4 1/2 or older etc? Why?

Age Age Age…..no spots, BANG

Age only. Managing by points gets most of your genetically superior bucks killed early in their lifespan and long before they have an opportunity to reach maturity and really show what kind of rack they are capable of producing as well as limiting their ability to pass on those superior high point count, genes. Also, having a point requirement normally limits/prohibits you from taking out older aged bucks with inferior racks that really need to go. 4 1/2 is a good rule of thumb as far as rack development because most bucks are at 80-90% at that age, but in AL, with the season length, out of whack sex ratio, rut stress, pressure, poaching and night hunting, and an overall lack of trigger restraint among the legal hunters, I've talked to a bunch of guys that are now backing off the 4.5 rule and going to 3.5's. They're getting tired of passing a pile of 115-135" or better 3 yr olds only to never see them again in older age classes. Managing for bucks in AL is a very frustrating endeavor and unless you control 5000 plus acres or hunt in a fence, your neighbors will have more of an impact on your management goals than you do. Most of Alabama simply will not pass a 90-100" 6 or 8 point, regardless of his age.

We'd have better age structure if everyone managed by "score" instead of age

No,,,, I don't let a five year old 110 ,,, 120 walk . He's buger

How can that be better ? Age structure managed by age would seem to be the logical process.

Every buck in the woods has the potential to reach 3 ½ or 4 ½ and get shot because of it……..Only about 1/3 of them have the potential to reach 120 or 130 or whatever you decide……

I'm REAL picky , I like age , big antlers , heavy weight , not broken up , close to the road ......................

This thread is useless without

Whataloadofchit

I agree! 4X4 and 5X4 should be 140" min. 5X5 and more 150" min.

Depends on the objectives of who’s hunting. Using a minimum point restriction is about the worst way to manage a deer herd. It does nothing to protect any age class or antler size of deer. It always leads to high grading. It’s about the only way that I refuse to manage a place. You can use any number of other antler criteria to protect most deer in whatever age class you want protected, like minimum main beam or inside spread, and even minimum score, but the BEST way is an age based criteria. Sorry CNC. 😜

The problem is getting everyone to agree on the age to protect, and the age of individual deer. At the end of the day, be reasonable and have fun.

Best way for accomplishing what??......I said score would create better age structure and it would.....

Age based harvesting is the best way to allow your bucks with the most potential to reach said potential. Antler based harvesting results in the deer with the most potential being killed a couple years too early. Also doesn't allow for killing over-mature bucks with few points.

In my experience the clubs who’ve implemented a minimum score only did so for so long, and decided to go in a different direction. One I know real well went to a 120” minimum and they all but stopped producing 140-150” deer because they killed every 120” 3-4 year old on the place every year. It is just another way to high grade. I’ve rarely seen it lead to higher age structure long term.

Here's a subject that hasn't been beat to death in the last 10 months...

It depends 🤣🤣🤣

Age

And i shot one to young this year last minute of legal - just went off horn - messed up - shot future stud amd it stung some. I thought back thru scenario to learn and remember thinking his body was not real big. And the small body made the horns look really big

Age for me and the only last minute shooting needs to be if you sold on the body/age. If not - i dont need to shoot

And it is your hunt so it is about what you want to achieve - what makes you happy

Rule #1 - be happy

Rule #2 - They are deer. Another one will be born this year or next. If you shoot the wrong one, the world will keep spinning.

Rule #3 - If you are managing less than 2500 acres, or are at/near the edge of said 2500 acres, that 2 year old may never be seen again on your property. Could get shot by a neighbor, hit by a log truck, or et by coyotes. If you shoot him, he will be replaced quickly, or see rule #2.

Lota truth Huck.

If you're managing age structure alone , shouldn't that be the only indicator to do so ? Don't get me wrong, antler growth can help when ageing deer, but it's not entirely conclusive. Body size, physical appearance, etc, are even more conclusive IMO. 3-4 year old deer bumping 130 would be the exact reason NOT to go by antler growth alone, would it not ?

I think lot of truth said by Huck

I see some of same on my 256 every year - may not be as mad at em this year either

I killed one this year that i have had pics of for 3 years. He was at least 2 when I got the first pics. The antlers are an average nice deer for our area but nothing special. The antlers have basically been the same size for the 3 years, maybe a little larger in 2022. Based on the antlers alone, I could've shot him first year I saw him with same result antler wise. He has a running buddy that I have the same 3 years of pics that has gotten larger body and antler wise all 3 years. He is a wide deer (close to 20" this past year) so I let him go as I've never killed a deer with a 20" inside spread and in hope that he makes it til this year and is wider than 20. I hope I can let you know... Antlers mean very very little...

If you’re wanting to manage for age structure alone then I’d say whatever method results in the best age structure would be the way to go……If 50,60, or 70% of the bucks are off limits because they don’t meet a score requirement then a lot of bucks get old

I agree that the majority of hunters assume age based off racks.

Cnc , but hunters like to kill some thing ever now and then . Hell,,, if waited on a 130 here ill be waiting a long time . If I was really hard core about it nothing killed should be younger than 6

I have a strict code I adhere to. First decide if I want to shoot it. If the answer is yes, then I shoot it.

How do you count points at 300 yards

I think the answer is a combination of both. Both arguments are true. If you go by rack score, you will high grade some 3-4 year olds. If you go by age you might kill 70% of your 4 year olds every year. Sooo come up with a score that meets your goals, and make sure that deer is the age you are comfortable with. But don't shoot and inferior rack buck just because he is old enough. Let that buck live and help your age structure.

That's my take on it. 130" 4 year olds is my goal. Hopefully I can stick to it. I haven't killed a 130" buck yet, but had quite a few on camera. And I've let a couple of ones walk that I thought were 120s. But I am getting an itchy finger, I can't lie.

good question . i aint gonna look to long so he may shrink as i get closer but so far it aint worked that way . knock on wood . lol


kinda like killing a spike for a doe ,,,, oh well .

BingOOOOOOOOO!!! I don't know anyone setting requirements on score alone. A 5 yr old 5 pt may not score 100 or even 90. Harvest on age!!!!!!

If I were looking to join a hunting club, when I see "8.. or 6 pts or better", IF the club is wanting better than average antler size, I know that the mgmt of the club hasn't a clue what they are doing in managing bucks or a deer herd for that matter. I'd never join a club that has solely a min point restriction!!! My club goes off of strictly age. We don't care if he's a 4 pt... if he's 4.5 years old, he meets requirements! All members in my club care nothing about shooting an immature buck. Hell, we have to encourage them to shoot a low scoring 5.5 yr old!! But it ain't like we don't see bucks... because we manage our bucks, WE SEE BUCKS!!!!!!