For the last 10 or so years my deer hunts have been focused on mature animals. I love a big rack but in my world high scoring antlers are rare- woods deer simply don't get the nutrition boost that farm bucks get. My search each year for those older deer has been challenging and at times quite rewarding. I had been watching a nice 8 point since back in the bow season and during the muzzle loader season I had passed on him a few times. That last day of muzzleloader I slipped into one of my best stands to see a buck already on the scene. There was a doe and a fawn there and just then I spotted that pretty 8 point walking in to join the doe. I looked at the first buck with my binoculars and immediately judged him to be an older deer- one that met my standards for being very mature. A quick body size comparison with that 3 year old 8 point made my mind up to take him. I noticed that he was barely a 7 point-basically a 6. I didn't wait long but long enough to get a good slight quartering away angle before pulling the trigger on my muzzleloader. The buck ran about 50 yards and stood in an open place. If I had another shot I would have taken it then but I was still reloading as he walked maybe 40 yards and fell. My photos show him first as he looked last year, larger in body and larger in antler though still a 7 point. The 2 trail camera photos following the night picture were taken just moments before I shot him. Clearly it is the same buck but not as heavy in body and further declining antlers. I will send his teeth off for aging by cementum anuli method. My own guess right now is older than 5 years. He had a recently broken jaw from fighting and tooth wear consistent with 5-6 year old whitetails. Lots of hunters hunt for a buck with great antlers, I have no problem with that but if larger antlers was my primary goal I would have taken that nice 8- if he makes another year he will really be a beauty!