WHAT do you call mature?

[ryanwood08]

This is the best thread on the forum. At least it has the most informatiom... thanks for all the good info

[FCTrapper]

Do you think it makes a difference where at in the country is mature? I mean the Missouri Monarch was a 4.5 year old deer. I wonder how many guys from Texas would argue he needed another 4 years.

From what I've learned and seen with Northern deer is they tend to peak at 5.5. Friends of mine from Missouri and Kansas say the hardly ever see bucks over 5.5 and the ones they do are on the decline. There are different theories as to why, I would say some has to do with harsh winters. But also could be because of their body size is so large they tend to decline faster.