old vs young concerning breeding

Inventry
UnlistMe
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

A.K.A.

A.K.A.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,074
City & State/Province
East TN
Y'all probably know this but just saw that a high percent of breeding is done by the younger mature buck and not necessarily from the biggest and older buck.
 
The best DNA parentage studies find that breeding is spread far more evenly across all ages of bucks than what was originally assumed, but there is still some selection by age going on. Yearling bucks are the largest single age-class of buck in the woods, but these studies find they are the smallest percentage of successful breeders. And the fewer the does available, the lower the percent of yearlings successfully breeding. In the best study I know of, I saw the breeding data broken down by week of the breeding process. In the first and last weeks, when the fewest estrus does are available, all successful breeding was conducted by bucks 3 1/2 and older. 2 1/2s and yearlings do most of their successful breeding during the peak of the rut, when the highest number of estrus does are available at one time.

It also appears the most aggressive breeders may be the 3 1/2 year-olds instead of the most mature bucks. Mature bucks are successful, but generally not on multiple does.

In addition, the strangest finding of all is that some bucks appear to never successfully breed, no matter how old they get. And it's not a small percentage either.
 
BSK said:
It also appears the most aggressive breeders may be the 3 1/2 year-olds instead of the most mature bucks.
Click to expand...

I talked with a guy at the deer expo a couple years ago that owns and operates a big high fenced operation. He said that 3 1/2 year old bucks were chocolate chip cookie of the walk on his farm where breeding was concerned. He actually said that they kill quite a few of his larger antlered "mature" bucks.

He had some ridiculous sex ratio like 10-12 bucks per doe though.
 
BSK said:
In addition, the strangest finding of all is that some bucks appear to never successfully breed, no matter how old they get.
Click to expand...

I know a couple guys from college like that. Not much of a mystery if you know them. :grin:
 
3 1/2s are definitely the most aggressive when it comes to chasing an estrus doe. They will chase over hill and dale. It appears the mature bucks don't chase, but herd a doe where they want her to go. Kind of an "experience" versus "aggressiveness" thing. The mature buck may not breed as much, but he gets the job done, expends less energy, and doesn't expose himself to danger as much.

Almost the difference in how a 25 year-old guy would work a bar for women--aggressive and highly successful, having his pick--versus how a 40 year-old would work a bar--more subtle, not as quite as successful, but he's not going home alone very often!
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
762hunter said:
I'm 31 where would i fit in that equation BSK?

aggressive and highly successful
or
subtle and not as successful?
Click to expand...

You'll have to tell me! I haven't done the "bar thing" in some time!
 
BSK said:
762hunter said:
I'm 31 where would i fit in that equation BSK?

aggressive and highly successful
or
subtle and not as successful?
Click to expand...

You'll have to tell me! I haven't done the "bar thing" in some time!
Click to expand...

Consider me a 3 1/2 ;)

Though I am somewhat successful, I do have a doe keeping me the thicket :D :D :D
 
RKenney said:
If a 1.5 buck breeds a doe, does it really matter, if he has the
"genes"?
Click to expand...

No it doesn't matter genetically, if he was destined to be a healthy dominant buck.

However, one of the downsides to young bucks breeding is that breeding is very stressful. Even older bucks can lose considerable body weight while participating in the rut. A mature buck can withstand that weight loss, as he has finished growing his body structure and already has considerable body mass. However, a yearling buck is still growing rapidly. He has not finished developing his skeletal structure. Significant body weight loss could literally stunt his ultimate growth.

In addition, a young buck has not had the chance to express his genetic potential. Without expressed genetic potential, Natural Selection has nothing to select against. Even though breeding is somewhat spread across the spectrum of bucks available, as mentioned previously, older bucks do more of the breeding and some bucks never breed, so there are important selection processes at work.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top