Swamp Wolf,

My background, lifetime livestock farmer, Wildlife management major in college.

If you want to improve a herd, you do it by controlling whatever factors you can. The easiest way to do that in a wild population would be to control the bucks as that is the only factor that you can meaningfully assess. Even if the doe (which we have limited info on) has inferior genetics, breeding her to a superior quality buck will likely result in the offspring being better than her genetically. Over time this results in improving genetics in both the doe and buck populations. Would it be as productive as breeding the best bucks to the best does and culling the inferior ones? NO, but we have no way of doing that, do we. Your suggestion is basically saying its too hard so we will do nothing and complain about the results.

Its easier on the farm because we often know what we are working for on both ends but, guess what? We typically work with what we have, which means the cows we have get bred. Even the mediocre ones. then we bring in superior genetics on the sires side. Its no different as far as the strategy goes but easier because we have control over the whole population.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If that meets your goals and expectations that's great. That is how I mostly am. The thing that boggles my mind are the guys that preach about improving the herd but then only want to shoot the biggest bucks they can find. They are actively sabotaging their own stated goals. Genetics is the building block behind everything, nutrition, weather, predation, age, stress ect all impact growth and quality, but without genetics nothing is there for those factors to impact.

From a nutrition standpoint, around here I think late winter is more impactful on antler growth than summer. Even in dryer summers we usually have plenty enough high quality forage for deer. But ive definitely seen bucks wear themselves down enough during rut then have a somewhat tougher winter and it effecting their antlers the next year.

….if you really want big brow tines … you’ve got to feed them a persimmon infused protein powder supplement mixed into genetically modified super corn

…. Then only let them breed the does with the biggest ears

… anything less than that you’re just wasting time and money

Age is what gets huge antlers..

Age is what gets huge antlers..

How old would you say the two pictured are?

I guess the does will breed with anything?

They aren't programmed to breed with a proven mate?

I guess the does will breed with anything?

They aren't programmed to breed with a proven mate?

What do you consider huge? Deer farms have 1 1/2 year olds with huge antlers.

HT,
I'd guess the buck with short brows is 4 years minimum. If I cover his antlers with my thumb amd look at just the body...I see some 5 year old + features in his blocky body.

The other buck is 3 year minimum. Covering his antlers in the pic...all I see are 3 year body features.

I hunt a property with a 7 point gene. Shot 7 or 8 7pointers from 1 1/2 to 4/plus. Biggest grossed 143 as a 7. Never dry crik running thru it. Mineral out every year. Never a change in point #s.