Deer dominance

M

MrB

Guest
I spend 5 days a week working in a trophy blacktail area.
Though it is not open to hunting, I have several sets of sheds from the area that would go high in the books. I have not been seeing the same genes being passed down the last 3 years. Previously 4x4s was the norm, but now 2x2s and 3x3s. In the past there have been big dominant 4x4s doing a lot of the breeding. The last couple seasons a very large bodied forked horn and 3 pointer have taken over. The forked horn buck antlers are just a small basket even though he is in his prime. The new herd bucks have absolutely huge bodies. I have had a great opertunity to watch these deer move up the ranks of the herd.

The more see, the more I believe body size is far more important than antler size in determining dominance. I know that the trophy antler genes are here, but nature will need to help them out by coupling them back with the big body gene before I start seeing more monark sheds.

I know hunters have a large part in the selection process for the future of a herd, but at least if the trophy genes were their once they can come back at anytime (with a huge body of coarse). They may have not totally been shot out, but nature may have pulled them back a little as well.

I hope this is true for muleys as well. What do you guys think?

Mike
 
I have a ranch in the A-zone and try to manage it for big horns. We try to shoot the big forked horns and leave the multipoint bucks. The largest deer shot on the ranch was a fork, 23 inches and 150lbs. I have found the three and four points to be smaller and longer in the back. They are also lighter in color. The big forks tend to be black as coal and fat around the middle. Opening weekend I counted over 30 bucks, most of them were buttons and small forks, as we have had three good years of fawns. The future looks good!
 
Blueoak, yes our deer reproduction numbers look good. One thing I have noticed also, is that because of all the late season rains the last several years there have been poor acorn crops, but the other feed is great. Maybe this also adds to smaller racks, but big fat bodies.
Mike
 
I know that whitetail are dominant over mule deer at the hay stack and I suspect other places. As for body size and antler growth, I think quality of nutrition is more important than genetics when it comes to antler growth. Once the deer has spent its early years growing in body size, it then can invest what nutrition surpluses it has into antler growth. Don't really have an opionion about whether antler growth, body mass, or individual personalities of the bucks determine dominant behaviors.
 
I heard from an elderly couple who lives up there. They witnessed the battles that led to the changing of the guard. The B/C 4x4 was pushing a hot doe, when the slightly larger big 2x2 walked in. After posturing for awhile the two huge bodied bucks went at it. They fought for a very long time. Leaning on each other exhausted, the larger bodied buck just started pushing the 4x4, about 150 yards later it was over.
Now the B/C buck will not challenge any buck of the same size or larger and has lost many spots on the ladder. He is about 7 years old and has the largest antlers in the area, but has lost his swagger. These deer facinating to watch year round. Most of the dominance is figured out well before the rut begins.
There are about 50 deer I am lucky enough to observe on a daily basis. They all know axactly where the stand in their society.

Mike
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom