I know it's tough to let him walk but hopefully he makes it to next year and he will be bigger. Parks and Wildlife took surveys because too many people complained about not seeing bigger deer. The problem was and still is, Bubba is gonna shoot anything with antlers. This 13" rule has helped and people should accept it. Back over 20 years ago I hunted a lease in east Texas where the bucks had to be 8 x 14 and it was not fenced so the surrounding area hunters always had decent deer to shoot. It was hard on us that let deer walk and hoping they would make it until next year. A tip for judging the spread of an 8 x 14 was the antlers had to be outside the ears on an alert deer, but a better tip is this, If you see him and you say " OH SH*T ", then he's big enough!!! Happy hunting.
Some Counties have antler restrictions that 13" spread is tricky from the hoof. The worst part about restrictions is the 8 point tall tight crowns we know are old enough but the 13" rules keeps them walking.
