Optimal Age to harvest a deer
06-15-2007, 08:47 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pickering Ontario Canada
Posts: 153
Optimal Age to harvest a deer
So the post "Look at him at 5 1/2 years old!!!" got me thinking. What is the optimal age to harvest a deer? Lets say you have oh I don't know 2000 acres that you and you only hunt. Deer stay tight to your property it is a dream property has all they could need. So you see a 1 1/2 year old buck who has the "potiental". You have him patterned and watch him all season long letting him walk waiting to him to get bigger. You know next year and the year after and the year after you are going to see him (OK so I know I am in fantasy land) How old is he when you finally "Harvest" him??? Is the best age 5??? 6??? 7??? when does his rack. body size all that good stuff start to decline? Just curious as to everyones thoughts
06-15-2007, 08:50 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 576
RE: Optimal Age to harvest a deer
depending on what part of the country your in, I would not wait any longer than 5.5 anywhere though because if you have a big buck under you and he's mature take him that is my opinion.
06-15-2007, 08:50 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Midway Ky USA
Posts: 1,157
RE: Optimal Age to harvest a deer
A biologist friend of mine say they begin to loose mass and antler potential around 7 years old. A six year old deer is also one of the hardest animals to come across. But to answer the question, if you are truly looking at peak antler production, then 5-6 yrs would most likely be the answer. For me a deer 4.5 yrs old or older is what I am looking to take. That's why I have the last four years worth of tags on my farm here in KY.
06-15-2007, 10:58 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Optimal Age to harvest a deer
It's also a fact that a whietail deer has a 20% chance of dying of causes other than hunting.....EVERY YEAR. SO....20%...compounded.....and it's a stretch/anomoly for a deer to get to that age.
4.5????
I'm thinking I wouldn't roll the dice past 4.5
4.5????
I'm thinking I wouldn't roll the dice past 4.5
06-16-2007, 07:45 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 2,849
RE: Optimal Age to harvest a deer
ORIGINAL: Kelly/KY
A biologist friend of mine say they begin to loose mass and antler potential around 7 years old. A six year old deer is also one of the hardest animals to come across. But to answer the question, if you are truly looking at peak antler production, then 5-6 yrs would most likely be the answer. For me a deer 4.5 yrs old or older is what I am looking to take. That's why I have the last four years worth of tags on my farm here in KY.
A biologist friend of mine say they begin to loose mass and antler potential around 7 years old. A six year old deer is also one of the hardest animals to come across. But to answer the question, if you are truly looking at peak antler production, then 5-6 yrs would most likely be the answer. For me a deer 4.5 yrs old or older is what I am looking to take. That's why I have the last four years worth of tags on my farm here in KY.
I won't shoot one under 3.5 on my farms. Honestly, it is very hard to come across a deer over 3.5 around here. I think I am going to up my standards to 4.5 though since my wife is going to be hunting and I don't really care if I kill one at this point. Plus, I have some photos from last year that let me know that at least 4 bucks around here will be 4.5 or 5.5 this year. Probably will never see them during daylight, but such is hunting.
06-16-2007, 10:49 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Spring Grove, Pa. USA
Posts: 2,120
RE: Optimal Age to harvest a deer
ORIGINAL: AK in PA
34. That will be my age by archery season and at present, that seems like a great age to kill a deer.
Any deer will do.
34. That will be my age by archery season and at present, that seems like a great age to kill a deer.
Any deer will do.
That's the way I look at it.I'm happy at whatever legal deer gives me the shot I want to take