yes to both

Nav does his own processing

Shoot em in the head and split the skull!!!

Make em as wide as you want!!!

If you or anyone is trying to make a determination by using only this view you are just taking a WAG and are at risk of breaking the law.
RULE #1...If it's too close to call, or you aren't sure, you should pass up the shot.
I've been hunting in an AR county for the last 5 seasons and it's not that difficult to stay within the law.

I don't think I would risk shooting number one...number two looks close...I don't like AR especially if it is my grandson looking at these bucks...

rick

Looks like you got a consensus......

What they said....

When in doubt don't shoot.

Patience builds character. Easy for me to say though, my Son is in his 30s.

Best advice to offer! If you are not 100% sure, don't pull the trigger, it could end up being extremely costly. With the AR's being implemented for quite a few years now, GW's are not giving any at all as gaharris mentioned.

As a member of the older generation, and a new land owner, I have never personally shot a deer under AR or hunted in an area with AR in place - hence I have no idea what 13" looks like in the field (yeah, I did watch a youtube video on how to field judge AR measurements, but that's like learning how to please a woman by watching a porno vs. actually being there, but I digress).

So those that keep saying, "if you are not sure, don't shoot" while I appreciate your sincerity and dialogue and I get your point but I think you might be missing my question, heck the interior dimensions could be 11" or 15" and I still would not be sure as I am not presently experienced/equipped to make that call without having made some visuals and then getting meat on the ground. In all my years of hunting this is something completely new to me and I only figured out my land was under AR about a week ago from others on this board.

So does every buck have exactly 13" when his ears are at alert (sorry for the earlier porno reference, I was out of line)? I have some first year 8 points that do not have the head size of the larger/mature bucks and I suspect that when they are at alert they are not showing a full 13" from ear tip to tip but the ratio of antler to ears could get a young buck in trouble if the body mass isn't properly assessed. Has TPWD actually measured the ears on bucks of various body sizes to determine the range of spreads that exist? I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I expect to have more that one junior shooter looking for their first white tail and I am struggling with being sure when I say "take 'em".

I have always processed my own meat, so an honest mistake would not result in much more than major disappointment and a learning experience, however it is still one that I intend to avoid if at all possible as I would never intentionally outlaw while hunting or fishing.

When I learned that my land was under AR, I took it in stride and it didn't bother me at all, but now I am beginning to simmer with the realization that those I invite to hunt that don't have adequate field experience could unwittingly make a serious mistake simply due to that said lack of experience. (Especially the lady shooters that have been repeatedly told a much more conservative measure of 13")

Aimless

From what I understand it's pretty consistent from deer to deer.


It's not like they are penguins or something .......

It may be consistent enough once the antlers are well beyond the tips of the ears.
That is why you can't make the call if it's close unless the deer is looking directly at you, with it's ears in the alert position. You also have to remember it's not the outside edge being beyond the tips of the ears, but it's the INSIDE SPREAD that yu have to make sure is beyond the tips of the ears! Then again it comes down to, if you aren't sure, it's simple!....Don't shoot!

Its tough when there aren't many options in deer visiting and pressure is on. Given that I would say number 2 is legal. Age wise I think 2.5 / 3.5 yo ..

Have a great season you may have a surprise buck show up anyhow.

Glad you brought up it being tough and not many options with the pressure on!
This is exactly what or why AR's came about at least I see it in the county where I hunted.
There was a time when years before the AR's were emplemented that a hard antlered buck jumped into our property and if it made it across you would hear a shot on the other property where the deer escaped to. I was guilty as the next guy and if it was legal it got shot.
AR's aren't the answer everywhere, but it made a huge difference on that ranch I hunted years ago in bringing back the deer numbers and with it came mature bucks. Not trophy, but mature bucks 3 1/2 year olds and older. Sure some bucks with narrow racks are allowed to walk also, but that may be something TPWD will have to deal with down the line.
All I know is that if given the chance, and people change their mindset (It's hunting, not killing) it can and will work for the better.
I've seen it first hand and I wouldn't want to go back to those old days.

While neither one appears to pas AR's easily, I think they are both mature deer.

Shoot one, measure it, and THEN make a plan.

J/K Both look very close to me.