She has us shooting 2.5 year and older does on our lease in Newton. The science is that older does have higher incidences of birth defects and the offspring have higher mortality rates. That matches closely what I learned in genetic counseling when the wife and I had our own children. The odds of having a child with birth defects increases dramatically with age. Young mothers have a 1/750 chance of birth defect, a 40 year old mother has a 1/125 (off top of the head approximations).

We shoot bucks at 4.5 years or older. Our problem is with culling poor bucks. Our rules are so restrictive that it's safer to let them walk than risk wrath over culling a potentially good buck. I find it frustrating, but I guess so is watching mistake culls (i.e. good young bucks) being cleaned at the rack.

I've seen plenty of does and bucks like yours this season. But my freezer is full, so only a true trophy is going down. If my daughters hunt with me over winter break they can take a doe if they're inclined in.

Congrats on your successful hunts!