2011 Antler Growing Conditions

[TheLBLman]

[size]How do the 2011 antler growing conditions compare to prior years?[/size]

My take is, thus far, about the best we've ever had in my favorite neck of the woods (Stewart Co.).

Statewide, the buck:doe ratio is probably the best it's ever been in modern times, which is believed to contribute to less rut stress and help bucks grow larger antlers. Widespread forestry changes are providing a much better smorgasbord of deer food, and many people are altering habitat and planting food plots for wildlife.

From what I understand, coming out of winter, into spring, a combination of body fat reserves and little rut stress is a bigger factor than excess spring/summer nutrition. Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer nutrition are both important, and it seems in terms of Mother Nature, this may be about as good as it gets. Excess spring rain has produced an excess food supply (at least to date).

At present, in terms of nutritional carrying capacity, this is probably the best it's been in many years (mainly due to those widespread habitat changes and a good mast crop in 2010 followed by abundant spring rain).

[size]Which raises a question.
If we had little or no more rain between now and September, would it have much detrimental effect on antler growth?
Or, is everything already in place to the point it can't matter much now?[/size]

[size][[/size]Antler high-grading issues aside. ;) [size]][/size]

 

[TLRanger]

I am an optimist - Antler growth is going to be great this year. I saw a buck in Brentwood this week that already had about 12 inch beams with 4 inch G-somethings on each side. The bad news is he was a road kill. The good news is it was almost in down-town Brentwood so he was not in a huntable area.

 

[Football Hunter]

I think the conditions look good,hoping it doesnt dry up completley

 

[PickettSFHunter]

34 inches of rain here in first 5 months of the year equals tons of browse. But very very very dry now.

 

[landman]

[size]How do the 2011 antler growing conditions compare to prior years?[/size]

My take is, thus far, about the best we've ever had in my favorite neck of the woods (Stewart Co.).

Statewide, the buck:doe ratio is probably the best it's ever been in modern times, which is believed to contribute to less rut stress and help bucks grow larger antlers. Widespread forestry changes are providing a much better smorgasbord of deer food, and many people are altering habitat and planting food plots for wildlife.

From what I understand, coming out of winter, into spring, a combination of body fat reserves and little rut stress is a bigger factor than excess spring/summer nutrition. Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer nutrition are both important, and it seems in terms of Mother Nature, this may be about as good as it gets. Excess spring rain has produced an excess food supply (at least to date).

At present, in terms of nutritional carrying capacity, this is probably the best it's been in many years (mainly due to those widespread habitat changes and a good mast crop in 2010 followed by abundant spring rain).

[size]Which raises a question.
If we had little or no more rain between now and September, would it have much detrimental effect on antler growth?
Or, is everything already in place to the point it can't matter much now?[/size]

[size][[/size]Antler high-grading issues aside. ;) [size]][/size]

The one thing I learned in Elk hunting is the years in got dry late summer, they always talked about the Bulls "not finishing out well" over 3 years of hunting you could see what the were talking about with the horns

 

[BSK]

The majority of antler growth occurs in June. Poor food resources in June could certainly reduce antler development. However, I don't think we are in enough of drought conditions yet to cause serious problems. In addition, I see a major change in the weather patterns for next week. I think we will see significant rainfall over the next week or so.

 

[TN RDG RNR]

Could use some of the wet stuff around my place. I hope it shows up this week. :)

 

[Boone 58]

Hope so!!!

 

[megalomaniac]

Gonna be a GOOD year for antlers on my farms.

I've got so much native browse to hunt, in late summer droughts, I'm still covered up in food when the neighbors have little. But if we do get late rains, I'll have the foodplots to supplement as well.

Honestly, we've had too much rain early this year... I could not plant 20 acres of NWSG I was expecting to this spring due to the incessant rains. Heck, we couldn't even get into the 80 acre field to plant millet before it was too late.

 

[W.Seay]

We are in luck, plenty of browse and soybeans!

 

[TheLBLman]

The majority of antler growth occurs in June.

IMO, the deal is sealed.

At least for the Western Highland Rim Counties, considering all the additional rain we've had in just the past 36 hours.

My primary county (Stewart) is a non-agricultural county, so an issue of spring flooding messing up row crops is a non-issue. The primary factors causing larger-than-average antlers here are the previous fall/winter forage base and the abundance of spring rainfall. We've had both for the 2011 antler growing season. But unlike prior years where both were present, never before have we had such biodiverse habitat (perhaps plenty of deer food even if had been mast failure).

Believe these may be the best antler growing conditions I've ever witnessed (for Stewart Co.) in my nearly 40 years of hunting here. Add to this more 3 1/2-plus bucks than in times past, I'm excited! :)

Would think same can be said for most Middle TN counties --- 2011 may be the best year ever for seeing large antlered bucks!

 

[TheLBLman]

The one thing I learned in Elk hunting is the years in got dry late summer, they always talked about the Bulls "not finishing out well" over 3 years of hunting you could see what the were talking about with the horns

I do think some extra rain while the antler tips are finishing their growing CAN cause some extra tine length. Extra tine length equates to extra "score" on say a B&C scoring system.

But at this point, I beleve the overall antler configurations, mass, spread are pretty much a "done deal". Maybe I'm being just a tad overly optimistic, but if the growth depends more on what a deer ate weeks and months ago, little rainfall between now and September will make little difference.

But then maybe I'm more into overall mass than B&C scores. ;)

 

[BSK]

I'm very impressed with the growth in my timbered areas that were cut just last August and September. North and east facing slopes already have waist high fireweed and other broadleaf forbs. I even think fawns could hide in this growth. This ultra-wet spring was a HUGE help, and I suspect these cuts will become "good cover" a year or two ahead of schedule.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

We are sure getting the rain now after that dry couple of weeks.

 

[BSK]

We are sure getting the rain now after that dry couple of weeks.

Yeah, I know. I was out in it this morning getting soaked to the skin!

 

[Football Hunter]

We are sure getting the rain now after that dry couple of weeks.

Yeah, I know. I was out in it this morning getting soaked to the skin!

Yep,lots of rain,I love it,for my 63 acres anyway!

 

[TheLBLman]

I was out in it this morning getting soaked to the skin!

Hey,any day YOU don't burn up a truck or destroy an ATV, is a good day. :D

And the 2011 antler growing conditions just keep looking better. :)

 

[East10buck]

The majority of antler growth occurs in June.

IMO, the deal is sealed.

At least for the Western Highland Rim Counties, considering all the additional rain we've had in just the past 36 hours.

My primary county (Stewart) is a non-agricultural county, so an issue of spring flooding messing up row crops is a non-issue. The primary factors causing larger-than-average antlers here are the previous fall/winter forage base and the abundance of spring rainfall. We've had both for the 2011 antler growing season. But unlike prior years where both were present, never before have we had such biodiverse habitat (perhaps plenty of deer food even if had been mast failure).

Believe these may be the best antler growing conditions I've ever witnessed (for Stewart Co.) in my nearly 40 years of hunting here. Add to this more 3 1/2-plus bucks than in times past, I'm excited! :)

Would think same can be said for most Middle TN counties --- 2011 may be the best year ever for seeing large antlered bucks!

Hearing this makes my day. I will not be able to make the trip to our farm to check cams til after July 4th. Needless to say I am pumped. I know of four 3.5yo's that made it thru, should be beaut's this fall.

 

[BSK]

Long range climate models suggest the Gulf of Mexico is going to "open up" (stearing winds allow Gulf moisture to flow northwards) producing regular tropical/thermal rains across the Southeast through July.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I sure hope so!

 

[Boone 58]

Oh so right Bsk, as time has bore out! good call. :)

 

[tellico4x4]

Yep, got an inch or two yesterday on Buckwheat planted Sat!

 

[Winchester]

We havent gotten dry enough here in the last year to even call it a little dry. The antlers here should be as good as ever.