antler quality by habitat? bsk?

[FARMTOFIELD]

For starters i do not want any soil discussion.. Are there noticeable difference in antler development/size in regions where crops are abundant, such as corn, soybeans, and winter wheat. By abundant i mean a large percentage of acorage vs number of acres in a county. How areas like that compared to areas where crops arent abundant and food access is not as great and deer thrive on other main food sources?

 

[BSK]

For starters i do not want any soil discussion.. Are there noticeable difference in antler development/size in regions where crops are abundant, such as corn, soybeans, and winter wheat. By abundant i mean a large percentage of acorage vs number of acres in a county. How areas like that compared to areas where crops arent abundant and food access is not as great and deer thrive on other main food sources?

The answer is unquestionably, yes. If you look at a map of crop acreage per county across the U.S., it almost perfectly mirrors a map of B&C entries per county. There will always be exceptions, but the link between agriculture and large antler growth is very strong.

 

[Hollar Hunter]

And the link between good crops and good bucks is good soil! Nobody has ag fields on mountains or in poor soil areas for the most part.

 

[redblood]

but arent deer more harvestable in areas condusive for crop production. if so, the age structure may very well be better in those mountainous, thick, difficult to hunt areas

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

For starters i do not want any soil discussion.. Are there noticeable difference in antler development/size in regions where crops are abundant, such as corn, soybeans, and winter wheat. By abundant i mean a large percentage of acorage vs number of acres in a county. How areas like that compared to areas where crops arent abundant and food access is not as great and deer thrive on other main food sources?

The answer is unquestionably, yes. If you look at a map of crop acreage per county across the U.S., it almost perfectly mirrors a map of B&C entries per county. There will always be exceptions, but the link between agriculture and large antler growth is very strong.

Thanks, i was thinking that it did but i did not know for sure. I wouldnt say deer in areas condusive to agriculture would be more "harvestable". I live in one of these areas, and i hunt tons of thickets that are surrounded by literally thousands of acres of rotated crop fields. Not one big field so to say they are broke up by thickets, and woods. I would guess they are more patternable like that.

 

[BSK]

Not one big field so to say they are broke up by thickets, and woods. I would guess they are more patternable like that.

Not only will "big ag" areas grow more large-antlered bucks, those bucks are more patternable, hence killable in that habitat. However, in big ag areas, the problem is getting bucks into the older age-classes (because they are easier to kill at younger ages). In "big woods" environments, it isn't as hard to get bucks into the older age classes, but they have much less potential for growing large antlers, and they can be very, very difficult to kill in that environment.

So you have one habitat that grows large antlers but it is more difficult to get bucks to the age where they can grow those large antlers. And then you have the completely opposite habitat that can grow a lot of old bucks, but those bucks don't grow large antlers as frequently. Pick your poison!

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

As far as young bucks getting killed it gets better year to year around here but you still have those that kill 10 or 12 bucks a year and most are 6 pt and smaller

 

[JGreg]

As far as young bucks getting killed it gets better year to year around here but you still have those that kill 10 or 12 bucks a year and most are 6 pt and smaller

then cry about not seeing big deer