I judge age by mass and minimum spread out past the ears, which certainly is not an exact measure. Number of points is really not a factor. There are certainly regional differences, but I feel pretty confident that a heavy rack out past the ears is at least a 3 1/2 yr old on my place. When you let one walk, you are sure that you are not ending hem early. Nobody can control what others choose to do on their places, as long as its legal. I took a lot of young animals as I was first learning to hunt. Any deer is a trophy when you start out. Saw a different mature buck with very short tines. He would be a cull if I get the chance to take him.
