We've taken several 2.5-3.5 yr old 6 pointers on our place the last few years so I'm not sure if its a genetic thing or not. Here's another one we're seeing but I'm hesitant to take him....just looks young to me. Is it possible that we have these deer that are genetic 6 pointers? I don't want to shoot animals that are not mature but really don't want these breeding more of the same.....thoughts?

dead deer walking

We take any straight 6 at 3 yrs old and sometimes 2 if the MLD tags allow it. Bucks with no brows we treat the same way. He is easily 3 and maybe older. Take him and fill your freezer.

I cant offer much advice but ill say its not like that everywhere. Between the two places I hunt we have about 14000 acres. We have a lot of cameras running and manage the cameras pretty well. It would be an educated estimate to say that we may see one or two a year at the most that have 6 points and are not a yearling. We really do very little culling at all. Genetics can be very different from place to place and very hard to change, IMO.

Deer looks like a 2.5 year old body wise to me but his face looks older.

I like big mature deer that are different and this guy has jacket winner written all over him in a couple years for the big 6 contest.

The bottom line is if he is not what you want in that age class of deer on your place, you cull him.

Ive only had a camera out on my little place for going on the second year now, but last year I had what looked like 3 yearling 4 points, this year i assume its the same group I have 3 young clean 6 points, all forks and dog catchers. One of them is easily legal by AR's.

You can’t eliminate genetics with limited resources, but you can stop their individual impact on the habitat and your pocket book.

That deer is at least 3.5 if not 4.5. If he is 2 I’d be tempted to leave him just because of his frame.

Jeez, . . . I find myself in total agreement with the Bobo

And he has brow times which is a good sign

Lot of good venison on that deer.

If you want more that look like him....keep him.

A big 6 like that one is a bucket list deer for me.
Another reason to get him outta there is they are more apt to kill a trophy deer in a scuffle because of the configuration of those daggers IMO

I would put a kid or new hunter on that deer, and enjoy every minute of it.

TAKE HIM OUT

That's a cull.

Ok...that's what I DO NOT want...he'll be on the lease-wide hit list...

Yes...this is exactly how most of our kids get their first buck. I had my nephew come out and shoot one very similar 3 years ago.

Nice buck hard not to want to shoot !

Freezer buck for sure.

Like others have said, let a kid shoot him.

Cull

I’d put a kid on that deer. Or new hunter.

Save him.