Thanks STX.

I think he needs 1/2 inch on each side.

I don't think the buck makes it.

If this buck steps out while hunting with son take the opportunity to teach him why he can't shoot it.
Remind him that hunting isn't all about killing and that good things are worth waiting for

With that said... When the first legal buck offers a shot give him the green light

Way to close let him go.

Probably a 4 year old buck and the poster child for what's wrong with the state's AR law. He's gonna be your breeder for a few more years if you follow the law.

I LOVE the fact that AR's are resulting in older and better bucks being killed. But there needs to be an exemption for deer like that. The law should allow children to tag deer like that. Or some other route to get them out of the gene pool.

Of course, you could let your son shoot that deer, self report, and see how compassionate the GW is...

Did you see the episode of Lone Star Law where the hunter shot a large deer that turned out to be very questionable? The hunter called the Game Warden and reported killing the deer. Seemed the size of the deer is what threw the hunter off. Warden gave him a ticket but also said he would tell the judge of the circumstance in involved. The hunter was fined $25. could have been much more if he had handled the situation differently.

I saw that episode. GW still wrote him a ticket but could have given him a warning due to fact he self reported without any requirement of reporting but that deer was no way close to being 13". That hunter just saw body/horns and boom IMO. Note I think it was in that same episode a DB dad shot a deer and let his some take the wrap for a ticket (neither had license). GW called tipster back when leaving shooter's house saying spoke to kid. Tipster said he knows it was dad that killed deer which was during time kid was in schoold. GW turned around and confronted dad who admitted killing deer. GW slapped him with big ticket. Thanks Dad, love you too and thanks for the good upbringing!

I think the extra width on his left side makes up for the lack of width on his right side. He doesn't clear both ears, but he clears that one enough I think he's legal.

Too close for me to take that chance. I would pass.

Too close for me.

This post shows the problem; you won't get a chance to judge that buck with a camera. Usually the buck is 200 yards away, 5 minutes from the sun setting in your eyes, while he's chasing a doe--and you're telling a 8 year old why he can't shoot his first buck. I'd pass on him.

I think he barely makes it, but not sure enough that I would personally pull the trigger.

What county?

NE Texas I think he's 13 on the money, but too close for me... sadly, we have to have this discussion.

Wolfe City.

Good pics and way too close to call. i think he is a older buck but no way worth a ticket.

I'm in the minority. But I think he makes it. Plus I think he will look the same next year.

Take him. let your 10 year old get his first deer, may not be a trophy but who cares. He's mature

If you can measure the width of the block or any other object in the photos, there are several softwares and applications that get very close at determining the measurements. I used one last year on a buck I shot and it was within .5". The being said, on the fly in the field is he walks out being a mature buck I would say his ears are at least 13" wide. Some people are comfortable with being close to the 13" rule. Typically if it's close I will not take the shot, but since he is such a mature deer with that sort of mass, I would have to think hard on it. There has been a buck we have let walk the last 3 years because he is very tall but inside his ears. But your buck is outside his ears.

He is 13 1/8"

I wouldn't chance it though. Unless it was a split decision for a child on a hunt without ever having seen the deer or documented publicly knowing he was iffy. If those were the conditions game warden might be flexible on a self report.

I can't call it and have been deer hunting for over 50 years. This highlights the problem with the 13" rule. TP&W went an inch too far. I was all for some restrictions to protect the 18 mos. bucks that previously made up the majority of the deer harvest in some areas. I believe AR's work to protect the young bucks. If only TP&W had gone 12" instead of 13"! The young bucks are almost never 12" inside and they typically show their age. They look young. On the other hand, a percentage of bucks even 3.5 years of age and older are less than 13" inside. Bucks don't often stand around next to a yardstick (and ears are a poor yardstick). The heft of age and the mass of a rack are much easier to judge in the seconds when a big old boy makes your heart skip a beat as he follows his nose across a sendero or logging road on the trail of a hot doe.