postoak, I'm agreeing with your thinking. How many times have we read that if there is any question, don't shoot. This deer is as prime as I have ever seen. He looks like bambi's dad from the movie. But even with the head cocked slightly I would still have to question if he was a legal deer if AR's applied given the TPWD "13 inch ear estimate".

What a great problem to have.

I watched him work a doe for 10 minutes this morning. I went and checked some cows drove back by about an hour later and he had her hemmed up in the same spot. It was all I could do not to make him dead. I think he'll be a trophy next year if he makes it .

What if I told you the outside the ears 13 inch rule doesn't work for all deer !!That is a bigger deer. If you go up to Michigan or Missouri a bunch of those spreads will be even with the ears and it might be 15-17 inches wide, but the reason is because they are much bigger bodied deer.

<< What if I told you the outside the ears 13 inch rule doesn't work for all deer >>

Yeah, I can buy that. The point I was making is that the TPWD rule of thumb to estimate 13" spread is very close for this deer. Let's be honest - he's a huge deer. Couldn't this be a factor that makes the majority of the responders here say he's AR legal by (my words) a comfortable margin?

I'm just putting this out there for thought. If you use the eartip inside spread estimate on this guy you're going to have to look thrice.

Let me ask you this. If you saw him posing like this and then took the shot just to find out the ground shrinkage took him to 12 7/8", how would you feel?

5-6yr old like 15 inches wide stud buck!

Good call Cattleman.....I think he's plenty legal and plenty mature but if you have to talk yourself into it, it aint the right thing to do.
Maybe there will be no doubts next year.

Good luck and Good hunting to ya.