What leads local deer to have small racks?

[FLHTCUI]

What is "quality"? Are they breeding for weight or antlers?

I've been eating deer meat for 66 years now and haven't found a decent recipe for antlers yet.

Like spotting deer tracks and antler they both make pretty thin soup, even with un-cut tags for thickener
Rob

 

[hawk-i]

This is worth looking at: Montana Government data

The Bad • Antler point restrictions have been shown to reduce the number of trophy bucks over time by protecting only the
smaller-antlered young bucks.

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content...ife/deer-ahm/4h---mdwg-fact-sheet-06-aprs.pdf

Seen lots of big 2 point bucks like the one pictured in the article in 4 point only zones( These are the bucks that should be culled)...genetics do play a role in antler size.

 

[conor_90]

Maybe talk with pretty much any farmer or rancher, they can give you some insight into breeding for quality with genetics

You are conflating artificial selection in domesticated animals that have been undergoing it intensively for ~10,000 years and your personal observations on an area you have hunted in, this is a non starter.

If hunting accounts for a greater portion of deer selected by “ unnatural” means than auto accidents and habitat destruction I would be shocked

Who’s the beer parlour scientist here? I’d bet cash I’m not the only real one on the thread

 

[hawk-i]

You are conflating artificial selection in domesticated animals that have been undergoing it intensively for ~10,000 years and your personal observations on an area you have hunted in, this is a non starter.

If hunting accounts for a greater portion of deer selected by “ unnatural” means than auto accidents and habitat destruction I would be shocked

Who’s the beer parlour scientist here? I’d bet cash I’m not the only real one on the thread

Let me get this straight, you're suggesting that removing only 4 point bucks from the gene pool will promote more 4 point bucks?

 

[hawk-i]

Here is a little info on deer genetics and antler size.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/antlers_inherited/

 

[tokguy]

There are Scientists on here? Cool...wait... I'm a scientist too! No, a Fireman...no...hmmmm... No! A REAL Firefighter...that's better, LoL.
More likely a Rednek who is feeling 'Sportish'
Not really, but it is the interweb...can be whatever you want to be on an open forum.

 

[AP]

I used to hunt in an area well north of Hwy 17 Ontario. An area where whitetail weren’t native and moose were. But whitetail managed to move in. The bucks tended to large and heavy bodies but mediocre racks. My thought was that the environment was cold and harsh in the winter and as a result the animals were investing more energy in developing size and body weight to handle the snow and get through the longer winter than they did in growing antlers.

 

[coyoteking]

I used to hunt in an area well north of Hwy 17 Ontario. An area where whitetail weren’t native and moose were. But whitetail managed to move in. The bucks tended to large and heavy bodies but mediocre racks. My thought was that the environment was cold and harsh in the winter and as a result the animals were investing more energy in developing size and body weight to handle the snow and get through the longer winter than they did in growing antlers.

Some of the biggest whitetail in North America come from areas around Edmonton, Meadow Lake, Nipiwan. It gets pretty dang cold in those areas.

 

[mbogo3]

Well..................... it's like women with small breasts.

 

[amber2010]

Well..................... it's like women with small breasts.

Or men with small.....****s

 

[mbogo3]

Wouldn't know about that one.