Antler size and drought? Effects?

[woodsman04]

In my area, and in my opinion/experience, we had the driest summer I remember.

Do you gentlemen think it has had a negative effect on antler size?
What I have observed is antlers that are lacking the "mass" that I would guess they normally have.

Just asking your thoughts.

Thank you.

 

[TNlandowner]

I have 6 trail cams watching our local deer herd. The bucks around our farm seem to have normal rack growth even with the drought.

 

[megalomaniac]

Didn't get really dry until August on my farms.

I think antler quality is based more on feed quality during Feb, March, April, and May (regain wt lost from prior rut). But I'm no expert.

 

[woodsman04]

No measurable rainfall entire month of June here. Southern Giles county and Alabama line.
They "usually" shed their racks around February 25th through March 15th, but it varies substantially in my experience. I think most growth here is in May and June. Vegetation is growing the most, the most palatable. By mid July lots of the summer plants have matured and aren't ready as beneficial as they once were.


I'm not saying anything is right or wrong, I'm just throwing stuff out there to try and create some theory