Deer Hunting Tips – What Conditions Affect Antler Size?
Sometimes, the most useful deer hunting tips have to do with herd management. To prize hunters, the goal is to harvest a deer with big antlers. We aspire to one day get that huge rack. All of us hear about and tell each other tales of huge antlers; points, spread, diameter, length of tine… However, do you know what really makes a difference in regards to antler size?
There are three main things that can influence buck antler size:
1. Genetics
2. Nutrition
3. Age
Genetics determine how big the antlers might become. All experienced game managers or deer hunters know what is scientific truth: maximum antler size is largely determined by genetics. Sometimes, the best managed leases impose limits on how big an antler can be if it’s to be harvested. A limit is put each season on genetically desirable prey and killing of genetically inferior antlered deer lets the gene pool move towards more favorable traits. Although there is some doubt regarding the benefit of these practices (effective killing of inferior antlered deer is sometimes impossible given the harvest rates to population in general), it has a genuinely good motive.
Nutrition or what a deer has to eat is another factor affecting the size of a deers antlers. Even if a deer has superior genetics, when there are not enough nutrients available for the deer to eat, the antlers will never reach their full size. Experienced hunters will tell you about seasons when drought caused foliage and food sources to be scarce. They will also attest how these conditions made it impossible to find any deer with huge racks. In order for deer to reach their full antler producing potential, they need adequate nutrition throughout the entire year. Due to the fact that most of the antler growth occurs during the spring and summer time, nutrition through this period is the most important. This means that when foraging conditions are poor during the spring and summer months, antler growth will be limited. However, if time and energy are put into habitat management, adequate nutrition and foraging will be made more likely. There are many times that supplemental feeding is needed.
The final factor is age, however research suggests that once a buck has reached 3+ years of age genetics and nutrition play a larger part in antler growth. The size of the antler tends to increase greatly during the first few years of age and then to level off sometime between the fourth to sixth year depending on the breed and its genetics. For this reason, the harvesting of bucks younger than 4 years is not encouraged. The practice by insensitive hunters of culling bucks that are too young can lead to such colorful expressions from more experienced hunters as, “That deer still had milk on its breath.” It is best overall to harvest only the mature bucks. If you are in need of venison and a mature buck is not in evidence then harvest a doe. The hunt next season will reap the benefit.
We are hoping that you use these deer hunting tips during the upcoming deer hunting season. Please visit www.Deer-HuntingTips.com for more advanced deer hunting tips you can use this year.
Tags: general, game, manager, energy, NFL, war, Deer Hunting Tips, Hunting, pool, food, Other, sports, Habitat, outdoors, Hunting, Deer Hunting, hunter, recreationcomments
Leave a Reply