I typically have a large class of spikes hanging around, I assume due to the bumper acorn crop and low deer movement last year all the 1.5 year olds are 3 pt plus deer and look larger than normal next to the doe groups. I have about 7 young bucks traveling withe doe family groups without a single spike
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1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorns
- Thread starter dogtown
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Re: 1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorn
That is awesome. A yearling's rack can be a function of many things (genetics on both sides, how healthy he came out of winter, his diet, stress, etc), but for bucks in the south, it is also a function of his birthday. A study was done few years back that showed bucks in the south with earlier birth dates (mom bred early in the breeding season) were more likely to have multiple points for their first rack, whereas the bucks born later in the year were more likely to be spikes. Furthermore, I have read at least one article where pen raised deer in Florida that were born early had better antler beam length, mass measurements, and points at 1.5 and 2.5 compared to those with later birth dates. In a nutshell, research suggests a buck's antler development during his first two seasons is directly related to his date of birth.
That is awesome. A yearling's rack can be a function of many things (genetics on both sides, how healthy he came out of winter, his diet, stress, etc), but for bucks in the south, it is also a function of his birthday. A study was done few years back that showed bucks in the south with earlier birth dates (mom bred early in the breeding season) were more likely to have multiple points for their first rack, whereas the bucks born later in the year were more likely to be spikes. Furthermore, I have read at least one article where pen raised deer in Florida that were born early had better antler beam length, mass measurements, and points at 1.5 and 2.5 compared to those with later birth dates. In a nutshell, research suggests a buck's antler development during his first two seasons is directly related to his date of birth.
Re: 1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorn
I would expect the acorns to have more of an impact on body weight than antler growth on a yearling. However, older bucks that come through winter in better shape due to fat from acorns, would seem to be more likely to devote more protein and energy to antler development.
I have seen huge healthy yearlings with no antler above the hairline. And slight yearlings with 8 points. As Andy pointed out there are a lot of factors at play.
I would expect the acorns to have more of an impact on body weight than antler growth on a yearling. However, older bucks that come through winter in better shape due to fat from acorns, would seem to be more likely to devote more protein and energy to antler development.
I have seen huge healthy yearlings with no antler above the hairline. And slight yearlings with 8 points. As Andy pointed out there are a lot of factors at play.
easy45
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Re: 1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorn
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TheLBLman
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Re: 1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorn
For the average buck, I believe his overall health and body condition at the very beginning of the annual antler growing period (typically beginning around April) may be just as important as how much soluble protein he consumes during that period (generally about April thru August). In fact, I believe herd health (or in this case an individual buck's overall health) is often more important at the beginning of this period than getting above average nutrition (mainly protein) while the antlers are growing.
If given a choice, I'd take a huge red oak acorn crop (deer eating acorns into January or later) over "above average" spring/summer rainfall (which results in more soluble protein in the deer's diet). But we're not given THAT choice, while we often make counter-productive choices or waste money on things (to grow larger antlers) that make no difference.
THIS YEAR, I'm really excited about the probability of above-average antler growth in the county I plan to do most my deer hunting. We had a huge red-oak acorn crop, and year-to-date rainfall has been not only above average, but also consistently falling without flooding or drought. This seems to be the case for a majority of Tennessee's counties this year, although there are some counties now dropping into below and way below average year-to-date rainfall, and some of those may have also had a poor acorn crop.
This year, more than average, more yearling bucks will be sporting 6 to 8-point antlers, lots of 2 1/2-yr-old bucks are going to look more like 3 1/2-yr-old bucks, and lots of 3 1/2-yr-old bucks are going to have the appearance more of a 4 1/2. All age classes have benefited, and those hunter-managers trying to avoid taking bucks younger than a certain age, may be extra tough not to make a mistake this year.
For the average yearling buck, I can't agree with that, as believe excess acorns matter closer to near equal on both body weight and antler growth. As Andy points out, lots of factors come into play, while no amount of food will make an individual buck with bad genetics suddenly have good genetics. But IMO, the contribution of genetics' role in what the average buck is carrying is more overstated than the impact of soil.pass-thru":1bmkhn58 said:
For the average buck, I believe his overall health and body condition at the very beginning of the annual antler growing period (typically beginning around April) may be just as important as how much soluble protein he consumes during that period (generally about April thru August). In fact, I believe herd health (or in this case an individual buck's overall health) is often more important at the beginning of this period than getting above average nutrition (mainly protein) while the antlers are growing.
If given a choice, I'd take a huge red oak acorn crop (deer eating acorns into January or later) over "above average" spring/summer rainfall (which results in more soluble protein in the deer's diet). But we're not given THAT choice, while we often make counter-productive choices or waste money on things (to grow larger antlers) that make no difference.
THIS YEAR, I'm really excited about the probability of above-average antler growth in the county I plan to do most my deer hunting. We had a huge red-oak acorn crop, and year-to-date rainfall has been not only above average, but also consistently falling without flooding or drought. This seems to be the case for a majority of Tennessee's counties this year, although there are some counties now dropping into below and way below average year-to-date rainfall, and some of those may have also had a poor acorn crop.
This year, more than average, more yearling bucks will be sporting 6 to 8-point antlers, lots of 2 1/2-yr-old bucks are going to look more like 3 1/2-yr-old bucks, and lots of 3 1/2-yr-old bucks are going to have the appearance more of a 4 1/2. All age classes have benefited, and those hunter-managers trying to avoid taking bucks younger than a certain age, may be extra tough not to make a mistake this year.
ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER
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Re: 1.5 year olds age class benefitted from last years acorn
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