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TN Deer Population
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5635056" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>If your goal is to produce more larger antlered bucks, my recommendation would be to give a pass to <em>ALL</em> bucks appearing younger than 4 1/2. In terms of collective herd antler genetics, you're not going to accomplish much if anything via passing or killing any particular bucks under the age of 3 1/2.</p><p></p><p>While you may not alter herd antler genetics much, you can augment the outcome a bit simply by not killing your best antlered bucks at 2 1/2 or 3 1/2. When these individual bucks are among those surviving to 4 1/2 or older, there can be a significant difference in the antler scores of your average older buck. But this is more due to hunter restraint than antler genetics.</p><p></p><p>Prior to their reaching 3 1/2, it can be difficult to guess which individual bucks may or may not have above or below average antler genetics. And with 1 1/2-yr-old bucks, you can really, really guess wrong, as often, many spike bucks were simply late-born, and may have way above average genetic potential. Being late born, they may have to reach the age of 4 1/2 simply to "blossom" and show their true genetic potential.</p><p></p><p>It is for some the above reasons, I personally try to "target" bucks that I believe to be 5 1/2 or older, as that is the age most will grow their highest scoring antlers. Some will score more at 6 1/2, most will gain some "mass" (antler circumference) at 6 1/2 & 7 1/2, but may lose "score" which is often more a reflection of tines lengths than circumferences of those tines (and main antler beams).</p><p></p><p>Personally, I'd rather take a 120-class fully mature buck, getting relatively more of his "score" from mass (antler circumferences) than a younger 130-class buck getting his "score" mainly from tines lengths (albeit often very "skinny" tines, "skinny", non-impressive antlers). Never mind that that young 130 may have had what it takes to become a 150-plus mature buck, if you just don't kill him before his time.</p><p></p><p>I assure you this "prescription" is more easily said than done.</p><p>Very few of us have the restraint <em>NOT </em>to kill a young buck with larger appearing antlers than the largest antlers we've taken to date on a buck of any age.</p><p></p><p>One of the biggest obstacles is hunters' unwillingness to greatly study body profiles of bucks, so that they can quickly make better field aging assessments. Most hunters focus most on the antlers, and a 115-class 2 1/2-yr-old buck may "appear" to be a 150-class set of antlers. The hunter quickly shoots, then experiences major "ground shrinkage".</p><p></p><p></p><p>Yes.</p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://deerassociation.com/[/URL]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5635056, member: 1409"] If your goal is to produce more larger antlered bucks, my recommendation would be to give a pass to [I]ALL[/I] bucks appearing younger than 4 1/2. In terms of collective herd antler genetics, you're not going to accomplish much if anything via passing or killing any particular bucks under the age of 3 1/2. While you may not alter herd antler genetics much, you can augment the outcome a bit simply by not killing your best antlered bucks at 2 1/2 or 3 1/2. When these individual bucks are among those surviving to 4 1/2 or older, there can be a significant difference in the antler scores of your average older buck. But this is more due to hunter restraint than antler genetics. Prior to their reaching 3 1/2, it can be difficult to guess which individual bucks may or may not have above or below average antler genetics. And with 1 1/2-yr-old bucks, you can really, really guess wrong, as often, many spike bucks were simply late-born, and may have way above average genetic potential. Being late born, they may have to reach the age of 4 1/2 simply to "blossom" and show their true genetic potential. It is for some the above reasons, I personally try to "target" bucks that I believe to be 5 1/2 or older, as that is the age most will grow their highest scoring antlers. Some will score more at 6 1/2, most will gain some "mass" (antler circumference) at 6 1/2 & 7 1/2, but may lose "score" which is often more a reflection of tines lengths than circumferences of those tines (and main antler beams). Personally, I'd rather take a 120-class fully mature buck, getting relatively more of his "score" from mass (antler circumferences) than a younger 130-class buck getting his "score" mainly from tines lengths (albeit often very "skinny" tines, "skinny", non-impressive antlers). Never mind that that young 130 may have had what it takes to become a 150-plus mature buck, if you just don't kill him before his time. I assure you this "prescription" is more easily said than done. Very few of us have the restraint [I]NOT [/I]to kill a young buck with larger appearing antlers than the largest antlers we've taken to date on a buck of any age. One of the biggest obstacles is hunters' unwillingness to greatly study body profiles of bucks, so that they can quickly make better field aging assessments. Most hunters focus most on the antlers, and a 115-class 2 1/2-yr-old buck may "appear" to be a 150-class set of antlers. The hunter quickly shoots, then experiences major "ground shrinkage". Yes. [URL unfurl="true"]https://deerassociation.com/[/URL] [/QUOTE]
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