Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New Trophy's
New trophy room comments
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Classifieds
Trophy Room
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Deer Hunting Forum
Not shedding yet
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="BSK" data-source="post: 5050988" data-attributes="member: 17"><p>Yes, losing 3-5 pounds of antler makes a difference when pushing through 2 feet of snow, even if it is just a 1 or 2% increase in survival. That is how Natural Selection works. Any heritable advantage for survival gets passed on at a slightly higher rate, eventually becoming predominant in the population. Ask any endurance athlete if carry 3-5 extra pounds makes a difference in performance. It makes a huge difference over the long haul, and winter survival in the North is the ultimate endurance test.</p><p></p><p>I have not seen data suggesting northern females will not continue to cycle if they don't conceive, but that would make biological sense, as that would be a big expenditure of energy for an offspring that has a low probability of survival. Unlike Southern Whitetails, Northern Whitetails have their breeding timing much more genetically linked. A peak breeding in early November is essential for offspring survival. Breeding too early could mean a newborn fawn killed by a late spring snowstorm or cold snap. A fawn born too late in spring will not be able to put on the necessary body weight to survive their first winter. In the South breeding dates are not as genetically linked, providing enough fluidity that local deer adapting to local conditions can produce very unique breeding dates in pockets. I worked a big project in western GA where peak breeding was late October. Yet just two counties away in east AL peak breeding was mid-January. How these geographically close populations are able to maintain these very diverse breeding dates is somewhat of a mystery, considering how rapidly gene flow occurs in free-ranging whitetail populations.</p><p></p><p>I have a great deal of respect for many of the "older timer" field biologists. I've worked with many. Their observation skills are excellent. However, many attended university prior to the explosion in knowledge about white-tailed deer biology and social dynamics that has occurred over the last 20 years. In fact, more has been learned about white-tailed deer in the last 10 years than has been learned in all the years previous. If you aren't involved in the research end of biology, you don't hear much about this information. It doesn't "trickle down" well.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BSK, post: 5050988, member: 17"] Yes, losing 3-5 pounds of antler makes a difference when pushing through 2 feet of snow, even if it is just a 1 or 2% increase in survival. That is how Natural Selection works. Any heritable advantage for survival gets passed on at a slightly higher rate, eventually becoming predominant in the population. Ask any endurance athlete if carry 3-5 extra pounds makes a difference in performance. It makes a huge difference over the long haul, and winter survival in the North is the ultimate endurance test. I have not seen data suggesting northern females will not continue to cycle if they don't conceive, but that would make biological sense, as that would be a big expenditure of energy for an offspring that has a low probability of survival. Unlike Southern Whitetails, Northern Whitetails have their breeding timing much more genetically linked. A peak breeding in early November is essential for offspring survival. Breeding too early could mean a newborn fawn killed by a late spring snowstorm or cold snap. A fawn born too late in spring will not be able to put on the necessary body weight to survive their first winter. In the South breeding dates are not as genetically linked, providing enough fluidity that local deer adapting to local conditions can produce very unique breeding dates in pockets. I worked a big project in western GA where peak breeding was late October. Yet just two counties away in east AL peak breeding was mid-January. How these geographically close populations are able to maintain these very diverse breeding dates is somewhat of a mystery, considering how rapidly gene flow occurs in free-ranging whitetail populations. I have a great deal of respect for many of the "older timer" field biologists. I've worked with many. Their observation skills are excellent. However, many attended university prior to the explosion in knowledge about white-tailed deer biology and social dynamics that has occurred over the last 20 years. In fact, more has been learned about white-tailed deer in the last 10 years than has been learned in all the years previous. If you aren't involved in the research end of biology, you don't hear much about this information. It doesn't "trickle down" well. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Tennessee Hunting Forums
Deer Hunting Forum
Not shedding yet
Top