Deer Hunting Tips – What Conditions Affect Antler Size?

Sometimes, the most useful deer hunting tips have to do with herd management. If you are a trophy hunter, your goal is to find and harvest a deer with large antlers. Every hunter dreams of bagging a deer with a humongous rack. All proud hunters will swap tales of giant antlers, diameter, point count, etc. However, do you know what really makes a difference in regards to antler size?

Antler size is affected by three major factors:

1. Heredity

2. What The Deer Has To Eat

3. How Old The Deer Is

Genetics determine how big the antlers might become. All experienced game managers or deer hunters know what is scientific truth:  maximum antler size is largely determined by genetics. Leases are often managed in a way to produce the biggest bucks by limiting the size of the antlers that are permitted to be harvested. The gene pool of a deer population can be “antlered up” by limiting the number of deer that can be killed who have genetically superior racks and increasing the kill rate of those buck with genetically inferior racks. Although there is some doubt regarding the benefit of these practices (effective killing of inferior antlered deer is sometimes impossible given the harvest rates to population in general), it has a genuinely good motive.

Nutrition is the next contributor to antler size. Even if a deer has superior genetics, when there are not enough nutrients available for the deer to eat, the antlers will never reach their full size.  Most experienced hunters have hunted through seasons where drought has affected the food sources for the deer and the large antlered deer just weren’t there. It is crucial for the deer population to receive adequate nutrition year-round if they are to reach their antler producing potential. Most antler growth takes place during the Spring and Summer months so this is the most important time. This means that when foraging conditions are poor during the spring and summer months, antler growth will be limited. However, if time and energy are put into habitat management, adequate nutrition and foraging will be made more likely. Supplemental feedings are sometimes needed.

The final factor is age, however research suggests that once a buck has reached 3+ years of age genetics and nutrition play a larger part in antler growth. Usually antler size potential increases throughout the first few years of life. It continues to increase some during the fourth through sixth year. However, the actual growth rate and size depend on the breed of deer and the deers genetics. For this reason, the harvesting of bucks younger than 4 years is not encouraged. I can recall my dad’s complaints when neighbors would kill a two year old buck at a nearby farm and he would sadly make exclamations such as, “That deer still had milk on its breath.” It is recommended that young bucks be allowed to mature fully before being harvested. If you are at a point where you need venison, but can’t seem to get a mature buck, then you should harvest a doe. The next season’s hunt will be better for it.

We hope that you use these advanced deer hunting tips and techniques during deer hunting season to enjoy the most successful hunt ever.

And please visit us at www.Deer-HuntingTips.com to learn the secrets and deer hunting tips the pros know.

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