As I strive to become better at hunting mature whitetails, I'm always looking for ways to take my game to a higher level. For the past few years, my goal has been to tag bucks that are 4 1/2 years old or older. Just like Dr. Kroll, I consider that age to be 'mature.' But what about top hunters like Tim Walmsley and Bobby Worthington who are convinced that we should wait for a buck to reach 5 1/2 before hunting him?

I think the answer is obvious. Bucks are individuals, just like people. Tim and Bobby have seen some real-life examples of bucks that put on significant antler growth after age 4 1/2. On the other hand, I've killed bucks each of the past two seasons that I'm certain were 4 1/2 years old because I watched these bucks grow up and I got them both on video as 3 1/2-year-olds. In my case, both of these bucks grew very little between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 years of age. I had high hopes that each would be over 160 inches or even 170 inches as 4-year-olds, but both were barely over 150 inches at 4 1/2. And this was within a few inches of what they were at 3 1/2.

A CONSTANT LEARNING PROCESS Just keep in mind that bucks are as individual as people; some reach their peak growth earlier than others. Most fit into the profile explained by Dr. Kroll and represent the 'average,' while others are outside the norm.

When I started working on this series, I had my own ideas about the age at which a buck becomes 'mature.' After interviewing three top whitetail hunters and a whitetail biologist who is in a class by himself, I have found that this project has been an honest learning experience for me. A lot of my ideas have been reinforced, and yet I'm left with as many questions as answers when it comes to my approach to hunting monster whitetails. For example, do I let a 4 1/2-year-old buck walk and take a chance that he will get bigger?

While I've been happy to shoot 4 1/2-year-old bucks for the past few seasons, I think I am now ready to take my goals to an even higher level. That is, I may still shoot a 4 1/2-year-old buck, but I will probably be a lot more selective in making that decision. I hunt a couple of properties where I feel confident that each season I can kill the biggest buck there no matter what his age. On those particular farms I might be more inclined to let a buck live past the age of 4 1/2.

On other properties where I know heavy hunting pressure is an issue, any chance I get at a 4 1/2-year-old buck may well be the only chance I get at filling a tag. In that situation, the buck is more likely to get shot. Each of us has to set his or her own goals. However, I can say without a doubt that the higher you set your goals, the better a whitetail hunter you will become. When you are sitting in your stand this fall, your 'buck of a lifetime' may waltz by wearing only his second or third rack. Take him now and you may never realize whitetail hunting's ultimate prize -- a mature buck wearing a world-class rack. Good luck!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
To order a copy of the author's popular book Hunting Trophy Whitetails in the Real World, send a check or a money order for $28 (which also includes shipping) to Don Higgins, Rt. 1, Box 271, Gays, IL 61928.

page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4