To prize hunters, the goal is to harvest a deer with big antlers. The bigger the rack, the more valuable the prize. I don’t know any hunter who has not shared stories about huge antlers. They talk about the number of points, how big the spread was, the diameter of the antler, how long the tines were, etc.
The question is, how can you increase the chances that the deer you are hunting will have large antlers?
There are three main things that can influence buck antler size:
1. Genetics
2. What The Deer Has To Eat
3. The Age of the Deer
Genetics determine the potential size of the antlers. In other words maximum antler size is a trait that is inherited. This is a fact that experienced deer hunters and game managers know and that science has proven. Leases are often managed in a way to produce the biggest bucks by limiting the size of the antlers that are permitted 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. The actual effect of these strategies is questionable, but the though process and fact basis of this practice is very sensible. The fact is that culling of deer with inferior genetics is seldom possible when you consider the number of other deer killed within a population.
Nutrition or what a deer has to eat is another factor affecting the size of a deers antlers. Even with optimal genetics, the deer will not realize its full potential if the animal does not receive the proper nutrition. Most experienced hunters have hunted through seasons where drought has affected the food sources for the deer and the large antlered deer just weren’t there. In order for deer to reach their full antler producing potential, they need adequate nutrition throughout the entire year. Summer and spring diets are the most vital since the majority of antler growth really happens during those seasons. Inferior foliage growth during these months can greatly limit antler growth. Good habitat management can help alleviate the toll taken. Sometimes, it’s necessary to implement additional feeding.
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. Usually antler size potential increases throughout the first few years of life. It continues to increase some during the fourth through sixth year. However, the actual growth rate and size depend on the breed of deer and the deers 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’s best to allow the young bucks to mature and only harvest them afterward. If you are at a point where you need venison, but can’t seem to get a mature buck, then you should harvest a doe. You will see the benefit of this during the next season of hunting.
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