Antler growth among the deer family including whitetails, mule deer, elk, moose, and others is among the most unique happenings in nature. Guest Classifieds changes. If a whitetail with 400 inches of antler was a viable model in the wild, it would have a place in the bell curve. western mule deer antler growth, 200" buck, can you tell right now? In March of 2014 I made a trip to Texas to pick up 100 jugs of Mass XL for the 2014 season. Consult the feed tag on this package for specific feeding directions. Let us explore the details of whitetail deer antler growth and information. Mule deer antlers fork once 6-10 inches from the base and then each branch forks again in the classic mature form. Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a fawn, they often have just one.

Mossy Oak Properties Big Game While this is a massive oversimplification, generally speaking, when we are looking at bucks or bulls the old ones are the ones that catch our eye. Antler restrictions are harvest restrictions that limit buck harvest to animals that meet specific antler criteria. FONTS Mule deer Antler Growth Range conditions Genetics -Nutrition is based off of the range conditions -Range conditions are the weather, terrain, and quality of a mountain range or area -weather is things such as how much it has rained and snowed, or if a drought has hit, how Antler growth starts at the tip and initially forms as a cartilage, which is later replaced by a bone-like tissue that is similar to a honeycomb. Whitetail Deer Antler Growth Process. Deer Herd and Antler Growth. He is still a 4x5 and his antlers are 166 inches. Use only as indicated. Select Bucks for Harvest Based on Age Hunting The Country DEER SEASON Deer Antler Growth Cycle. For best results feed free choice in a covered trough or self-feeder. Topics that surround how fast deer antlers grow, what elements are essential for trophy deer antler growth, what States provide the basic ingredients needed for antler growth of deer, conservation programs to assist in antler development of whitetail deer, and much more. The most common type of antler restriction is a point restriction. The reality in this case is a 90 acre property that currently has bucks that are lacking antler mass.
Research has determined the average percentage of maximum antler growth bucks achieve at each age class. By Andrew McKean. The result was several with 3" plus of antler growth. In the spring and summer a mule deer's antlers are covered in velvet. All members receive 3 free listings a month. They fascinate us. From That to This (Deer antler growth) Discussion in 'Hunting & Fishing' started by huntemup, Oct 6, 2017. The increasing amount of daylight corresponds with decreased melatonin levels, which, in turn, trigger a surge of hormones in the young deer, inciting antler growth. May: Look for visible G2’s and antler beams should be at about half their final length. While unable to detect motionless objects, mule deer are very sensitive to moving objects and their sense of hearing is very acute. As males reach maturity and beyond, their antlers may grow differently on … Ideally, hunters will shoot bigger bucks if they simply provide the genetically-best bucks on their property with optimal nutrition until they reach 5-8 years of age. A buck's antlers fall off during the winter, then grow again in preparation for the next season's rut. Biggest whitetail I ever killed was gross right at 200” may 17th was the first day I laid eyes on him he was …
From the time antlers begin growing in late March through the end of April, growth is minimal. The Keys to Deer Antler Growth. Plenty of moisture has the grass growing quickly and food will be plentiful this spring and summer for optimal antler growth for the mule deer as well as the whitetail bucks. They need the best nutrition possible since antler is growing at the fastest rate during the next two months (nearly half an inch per day under the right conditions). Deer Antler growth usually begins during the early Spring in response to changes in growth hormones from the pituitary gland which stimulates antler growth. This, in part, explains why there is typically a big jump in antler growth between age three and four. Antler point restrictions have been used as a harvest strategy with the hope they will increase the number of large-antlered bucks in a mule deer population. His body weight at death was 130 pounds and his antlers were 105 inches. Fishing. New Growth A deer’s antlers begin growing during March and April and reach full growth … In the same area, same year, I've seen bucks that were basically done growing end of July and rubbed their velvet mid-August, while other bucks put on quite a few inches in August and were still in velvet my last day of chasing them mid-September. By Charles J. Alsheimer. In my June 6 and June 20 blogs I shared with you a specific buck’s antler growth (150-inch-class buck). In this way, male deer have hardened antlers by the time mating season rolls around, so they can assert their dominance on the breeding grounds. Every deer is different and can do different things from year to year. At 3 1/2 this buck was again an 8-pointer, but now he is beginning to show antler potential. growth in future years. Over his career as the wildlife biologist at the Comanche Ranch in southwest Texas, he’d spent a … As you can see his antler size has made a dramatic jump since June 15, and in the next few weeks his antler growth will continue rapidly during the peak growth period of mid-June to mid-July. Click here for all the info. During peak antler growth periods, bucks may experience a 20 percent decrease in mineral content in other bones. Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a baby they often only have one fawn. His antlers have a gross score of 122-inches (B&C). These cell types secrete growth-stimulating hormones that act mainly on the antlers and incidentally on the testes. Mule deer return to their summer ranges as soon as the snow starts melting and temperatures begin to warm. Page 1 of … April. In my opinion too many people try to put too many rules on animals. Outside the fence where survival must be earned, a 400-inch whitetail is the inferior deer. Mule deer have no upper teeth, only a hard palate. During the growth period, the pedicle is covered with a highly vascular skin, called “velvet,” that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the developing bones. The annual cycle of antler growth in the mule deer is initiated and controlled by changes in day length acting on several cell types of the anterior pituitary. Mule Deer are good swimmers, though they rarely use water as a means of escaping predators. Biologists say it takes more than the right rain at the right time. Feed AntlerMax® Mule Deer 16 deer feed free-choice with adequate forage or quality hay. 10 Early Ice Fishing Walleye Tactics That Will Put You on the Bite.

And one is that the size of a yearling’s antlers is seldom a predictor of what its antlers it will be when it fully matures. A 200” whitetail or mule deer will have substantial growth right now and usually when you see them in late may or June you know they will be big. Understanding the rate of antler growth relative to age is important when developing a harvest plan. His skeleton has stopped growing and no longer requires as much mineral nutrients. Yearling bucks will usually sport a spike or two-point frame, but a three-point frame is not that uncommon.

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During the rut they should have noticeably larger tarsal glands that are dark-stained with some staining possibly extending down their legs. In my Western backyard alfalfa hits the spot, but across the Midwest deer also seek out soybeans and clover-based food plots.

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