Whitetail Bucks: Antler Size And Genetics, Fact or Fiction? (

From www.GrowingDeer.tv: Scientific research busts the myth on big whitetail antlers! Watch this online video to see the results of ground breaking research to put to bed the question of antler size and genetics versus nutrition. Join the team and the conversation on facebook (Grant Woods), Twitter (@GrowingDeer), Instagram, and Pinterest!

[@southernpine79]

I grew up in Mississippi and we hunted in one of the medium to low quality soil areas they showed on the map. Over 25 years ago. A “big” doe was 80-90lbs. A “big” buck was 110-120lbs and small racks were common. The deer had adapted to lower quality food sources. My best friend and others I knew hunted over near Natchez on the river. Lots of Ag in the area. 140-150lb deer were just “average”. I heard elders in my area blame the problem on the impatience of hunters who didn’t let the deer mature, which was an issue but not the main culprit for such a small average size of bodies and antlers. I believed that too for many years. Not much has changed in 25 years in a lot a those low quality soil areas. I live in Alabama now and hunt up near the rivers close to the state line in Greene County. It’s a big difference. We hunt in a good area with moderate levels of agriculture and it produces noticeably better deer than the places I hunted in Mississippi. Hope to improve our hunting grounds significantly in the next several years and attract, hold and harvest some really nice animals.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Soil health does impact the quantity of healthy forage produced. Fortunately, soil health can be improved. My place was a severely overgrazed cattle ranch. Now it's a very productive for wildlife.

[@mikeclark5303]

That is really interesting research! I still think that bucks do pass down certain antler characteristics to the next generation though. I've seen some bucks that I just knew who the daddy was.

[@jlw60186]

I'm a forestry student at MSU. Such a great program and school! This summer I was involved in our Summer Field Program for the forestry curriculum. We had a week long wildlife management class and it was extremely interesting and informative. Dr. Steve Demarais and his team from the MSU Deer Lab shared great information about this topic of quality of deer in relation to available and proper nutrition along with genetics. I am so excited to see this feature. I referenced your program when discussing with Dr. Demarais about your food plot fencing, etc. Thanks for sharing!

[@p.hightower5383]

Going to have to watch this a few more times but awesome episode. Mississippi State doesn't fool around when it come to deer! Hunting season is great but "getting ready for hunting" season is the best part IMO.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I agree Mississippi State puts out some great research! - grant

[@tylermulvany]

Awesome Video! Officially one of my favorites from GrowingDeer.tv. Thanks for giving us hunters useful information every week

[@jeddiajones4570]

This is such an awesome video. We here all the time that "Florida doesn't have the genetics to produce trophy deer." We always thought it is just the crap sandy soil here that won't hold nutrients. This proves the point. Awesome video!

[@fatheremmons85]

Great video. Very informative. I live in central Oklahoma but i hunt in NW Oklahoma. I see big differences in body and rack sizes between the two regions. NW OK produces way more bigger bodied and racked deer than the rest of the state usually. I believe its because of all the farm land and less human population in NW Oklahoma. Hunting pressure plays a huge part as well in antler size. Obviously dead deer dont grow. Letting young bucks walk to a mature age can greatly increase your odds at harvesting bucks with larger bodies and racks. This isn't a likely outcome though in areas with lots of hunters killing the first deer that walks out in front of them.

[@Ghillie-bp6tl]

Awesome content, Eric & Dr Grant. Not always about proving correct or incorrect, but just shaving off the variables.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Yes sir!

[@hunterlindsey93]

This was EXTREMELY informative! Thanks!

[@nclifeoutdoors2669]

This is by far the best info you can find. I greatly appreciate the time and effort of taking deer from the wild and doing this study. Thanks to those with a passion for wildlife.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks! We have over 400 other episodes on growingdeer.com with similar information! -Daniel

[@outdoorztime2923]

* AWESOME RESEARCH * This just goes to show each one of us, as hunters and property owners, can make a difference to the wildlife in our area. It will take some work on our behalf, however. To the true lovers of creation, this is more enjoyment that a chore. It's being good stewards.

[@robbourn7379]

Having grown up in south MS. I really appreciate this video, Thanks

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Welcome!

[@GunGuy258]

I live in Frankfort KY and we have decent deer here and Shelbyville, but go 2 towns over to Salvisa and EVERY single Buck I seen taken out there are massive antlered.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Surely not every deer?

[@Drivingtacks]

This is a really great video. It is very informative. I've always thought nutrition played a bigger part and this confirms that. Thank you for sharing the study.

[@davidzellers3537]

Grant this is very true. Four miles across the state from the delta into the hills average deer weights drop by 50 to 60 lbs. I hunt in the Mississippi Delta and the average 3 to 4 year old bucks I have harvested weigh from 215#s to 230#s on the foot and have a average antler growth of 139 to 140”. I’ve hunted in the hills of north Mississippi and the average 3 to 4 years I’ve harvested weigh 140 to 150 lbs with average antlers were 110”. The average 3 year old doe in the delta weighs about 150 to 170. The average doe in the hills weigh 80 to 90 lbs. SOIL is everything!!!!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks for sharing David!

[@lukedog7028]

I would like to see what would happen if they did bring in some “superior genetics “ the experiment is incomplete without this data. Perhaps the antler growth would revert back to tiny but how do we know?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Luke - that work has been done many times! You should checkout the work at Mississippi State and Texas A&M at Kingsville. A buck's age and nutrition are the keys. Remember that does carry about 70% of the antler traits - they are a sex-linked trait.

[@lukedog7028]

@@GrowingDeerTV if that is the case wonder why these high fence operations don’t just start with any deer and feed them?

[@lukedog7028]

I suspect the high fence folks know that all the magic bean seeds and hinge cutting will not really consistently grow 200+ Whitetails.

[@gary4645]

Enjoy watching this channel. The buffalo method is something I need to strive for more soil improvement. " But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 " Nature belongs to God and we are it's caretakers.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Gary! As I've learned more I now call my techniques the Release Process as it releases the creation's potential.

[@eliyeck3494]

Very good video Growingdeer

[@davidzellers3537]

FALCONS_HUNTER hunter love your sign! TP2020

[@huntwarbukz4117]

Awsome info guys .. thanks

[@GrowingDeerTV]

:) -Daniel

[@themangarage2203]

Very informative! Thank you for sharing

[@chrisnjenniferthoennes3405]

What do you recommend for northern Minnesota where forage or browse is not as easily available for 4-5 months out of the year? Is there a supplement feed or minerals that we can put out in the winter time to provide the needed nutrients?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Deer, like humans, get plenty of minerals from a good diet. Deer survived northern, Minnesota winters long before supplemental feed or minerals. The best bet is to work on improving the habitat quality.

[@randydavid8823]

It makes sense, nutrition plays a huge part. Even if you got the best genes but you're deprive of proper food and nutrition it wont matter at all. Acquire the best traits and provide the best management and nutrition you wont go wrong.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

You got it Randy! -Daniel

[@nathanwilliams7492]

great presentation my question is how do we go about managing our soil better for nutrients?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

+Nathan Williams That's a detailed question...and the short answer is that it's about soil managment and food plot management. In most of our food plot videos we show practices that are beneficial to soil maintenance. Here's a link: www.growingdeer.tv/view/1zv5

[@Goshawk2317]

How do you explain that the former, long-standing world record typical whitetail came from a sandy soil area with no agriculture or food plots (but a lot of good regneration from logging)? Their bodies (bones, muscle structure) aren't really "done" - the point when they can pour a lot into their antlers and possibly make a big jump - until 5.5 years old. They may not get big as fast, but deer that can make it to 5.5+ years old in good forest habitat can be really big.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

The key you said was "a lot of good regeneration..." Closed canopy forest don't provide much food for deer and many other critters. Forestry regeneration and a low deer population and result in producing good bucks. It's always the number of deer versus the quantity of quality forage. - grant

[@TuberoseKisser]

I was honestly told that conditions(environmental wise) is what determines a antler size, I've seen big bucks with,not tiny but disproportionately small antlers in certain conditions, genetics do probably play a role in that case too, I'm not really a antler expert since I used to hunt big body bucks, not big body and antlers.

[@RayEvangelista70]

Great video!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thank you Raymond! -Daniel

[@jlmartin8023]

If nutrition plays a bigger role then genetic why do all of the deer farms talk about stacking genetics and not formulating better foods? I know they feed high quality feed but I think for truly giant deer genetics play a key role.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

JL - Deer in breeder facilities have a pedigree - who bred who and the results of the crossing. That's impossible in the wild so genetics is a non issue and age and nutrition are the primary determinants of antler size. There have been many research projects on this and they all show the same.

[@fisher-ph7ll]

The first few seconds of the video you talk about the deer genetics in Mississippi, how is it possible for me to tell what parts of a state have deer with bigger antlers or bigger bodies?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

It would be difficult to do through hunting because you would always be observing such a small sample size. Harvest records would be a much better way, if you state has those available. -Daniel

[@artaviabutler4176]

What can you do if you cant afford food plots and perscribed fires ( Dont know how to do controlled fires )

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Artavia Butler Deer are very selective feeders. Seeking out the most nutritious and best tasting food first. If there is an oak tree in the area where you hunt, give it some fertilizer for better tasting acorns. Or fertilize the native green browse - then hang your stand nearby. Another easy option is to add mineral licks through out your property. We use Trophy Rock. - Tracy for the GrowingDeer.tv team

[@jimjones8300]

All about the soil

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Yes!

[@accountburner4714]

Talk about motivation for a poor soil property owner. LOL. Thanks and good video

[@mmoutdoors5729]

what editing software do you use GrowingDeer.tv

[@huntingwithpreston4975]

What if you have a 5 to 6 year old cull buck should I shoot it?, In GA in some county's a buck has to have 4 points or better on one side to be legal. Why? Is it a good regulation or not?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Preston- Many research projects have been completed and prove that "culling" bucks with inferior antlers is 100% ineffective. This regulation is an attempt to allow younger bucks age while older bucks who are "more likely" to produce the 4 points on one side are shot. This however saves very few deer. There are many 1.5 year old bucks that can express 4 points or more on one side. -Matt

[@willdebondt9741]

what is your fav grunt call

[@GrowingDeerTV]

We really like the Messenger! It mimics a younger (2yr) buck which challenges older bucks. You can see the Messenger work it's magic here: www.growingdeer.tv/archive/#/prerut-action-bow-hunt -Daniel

[@benpearse4298]

We got big body deer here in ontario

[@GrowingDeerTV]

+Ben Pearse Yes, you sure do! The more north you go in latitiude the bigger weights and bodies you will encounter! -Matt

[@Gabucks1]

Id get fat too if you penned me up and fed me a high protein diet..

[@powerram92]

im surprise that you dont have problems with poachers or trespassers

[@jbcurdog72]

AGE!!!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Correct!