Besides "dirt"?...and...

[RKenney]

What is the single most important thing about growing big bucks,
besides "good soil", and letting the bucks "grow up"? Is it
geographical, mineral, or something else?

I know that geographics has a lot to do with it, but it seems
like those "geographic" areas (some, but not all) have a 1 buck
or a low buck limit. I know BSK, the same age stucture doesn't
have the same measurements of racks in TN. as they do in other
states. BUT, could there be some other factor.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

3 factors in growing large bucks
1.Age
2.Nutrition(ties in with soil, which would tie in with geography, minerals)
3.Genetics

#1 and #2 are the most important and little is known of #3.

 

[boweye91]

I was also going to say genetics. Another factor can be stress levels. This ties ito the age though because if bucks are in an area that has high hunting pressure than older bucks are naturally going to be more stressed. But, if hunting pressure is controled and thus stress levels are low then the bucks will be healthier and, everyone's favorite, have bigger racks.

This is a often a minor factor compared to some of these others but it can play a role in having "big bucks".

 

[BSK]

Within a single location, the most important factors are (in order) age, nutrition and individual buck's genetics. And since you can't do anything about over-all soil type in a given location, the biggest improvements will be seen by increases in the volume and quality of food sources.

Between DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS the biggest factor is nutrition/soils.

Of course, those are broad statements. When it comes to "How can I grow larger antlered bucks on my property?" the first issue is age. Are you producing and killing mature bucks? Bucks don't hit peak antler growth until 6 1/2. Is the deer herd in balance with the habitat? Are you providing as much high-quality nutrition (agriculture) as possible? Herd dynamics can also play a fairly significant role, in that balanced sex ratios and advanced buck age structures greatly reduce buck stress levels during the rut (the breeding process is spread between more older bucks, and less breeding stress is placed on young bucks). Evidence exists that reduced breeding stress on young bucks allows them to grow larger at maturity. In addition, a balanced sex ratio and advanced buck age structure ensure that Natural Selection is at work--the healthiest, most dominant bucks do more breeding, and young bucks that have not "proven themselves genetically" are not doing much breeding.