WET YEAR= ANTLER GROWTH
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mntnguide
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Haven't seen moisture in a few weeks here in western Wyoming.. not sure about wettest year in 20.. pretty dang dry up in the highcountry already. My observations from the past 6 weeks of scouting, Nothing stands out as being any different than the year before. We definitely aren't like Arizona.. A buck i found last year was about 185 when i decided to let him grow, found him again this year and he is about 200-205 which is what i was hoping.. so i don't think antler growth is anything exceptional this year.
nfh
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I dont go on wet years equal more growth. The whitetails i keep tabs on do pretty good during dry years. Maybe thats due to irragtion and good crops.
Secondly some of the best bulls i have seen in the years past were taken during very dry years..
During the extremely wet years i still find the same class of bulls and bucks as i do during the dry years
Secondly some of the best bulls i have seen in the years past were taken during very dry years..
During the extremely wet years i still find the same class of bulls and bucks as i do during the dry years
jm77
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A misconception about wet years is that more or better quality feed is available. Actually, a biologist told me that in most drier seasons the quality of what feed out there is better. In wetter years, there is more feed, but it overall is not as high in quality and animals have to consume more of it.
Moral: I hunt every year and don't worry about wet or dry years. It seems to have always worked out for me.
Moral: I hunt every year and don't worry about wet or dry years. It seems to have always worked out for me.
mntnguide
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>
> PRETTY MUCH REFERING TO
>THE MOISTURE IN THE LAST
>FEW MONTHS (NOT RECENT WEEKS)
>AS IT HAS A EFFECT
>ON ANTLER GROWTH. I
>AM HEARING THAT GROWTH IN
>BOTH ELK & DEER IS
>LOOKING GOOD AS COMPARED TO
>YEARS PAST...????.YD.
Like i said.. in my past 6 weeks of scouting, i haven't noticed anything that makes me think antler growth is any better this year than previous ones. Seems about the same as usual. Unlike places like Arizona, i don't think the difference between wet and dry years effect our animals nearly as much. Because we have water in the mountains no matter what, whereas southern states that are water dependent will show a bigger difference in animals year to year.
> PRETTY MUCH REFERING TO
>THE MOISTURE IN THE LAST
>FEW MONTHS (NOT RECENT WEEKS)
>AS IT HAS A EFFECT
>ON ANTLER GROWTH. I
>AM HEARING THAT GROWTH IN
>BOTH ELK & DEER IS
>LOOKING GOOD AS COMPARED TO
>YEARS PAST...????.YD.
Like i said.. in my past 6 weeks of scouting, i haven't noticed anything that makes me think antler growth is any better this year than previous ones. Seems about the same as usual. Unlike places like Arizona, i don't think the difference between wet and dry years effect our animals nearly as much. Because we have water in the mountains no matter what, whereas southern states that are water dependent will show a bigger difference in animals year to year.
elks96
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I should clarify, the units I am familiar with are all drier units.
I have a tag this year in a quality unit that is pretty dry and lack high country. The last several years has been the same report from past hunters and from the biologist etc. Lots of 330 bulls but very few bulls over 350. Do not hesitate to shoot a 350. I however have 9 bulls that are over 350 scouted and I have not even covered 1/2 the unit. The one officer who has been in the unit since the early 90s says that this year is the best he can recall for antler growth, stating he feels like the bull have on average have 20"+ more growth than a normal year and likely 30" vs a dry year.
As another point timing of moisture make a huge difference. This unit is notorious for have small 3rds. This year I am finding bulls all over with monster 3rds.
My theory is that when the 3rds are usually growing the animals are starting to switch over feed types and plant types on a normal of dry year. As a result the 3rds are stunted but by the time the tops are growing they have transitioned to a higher quality feed. This year the late moisture allowed the bulls to grow significantly larger 3rds as they stayed on that feed longer into the year. I am not not sure if this has resulted in smaller tops, but definitely some amazing 3rds this year...
As for deer I have a 4th tag in a unit I have hunted since I was in high school I know the unit very well. I will be able to tell if it seems like it made a difference then.
I have a tag this year in a quality unit that is pretty dry and lack high country. The last several years has been the same report from past hunters and from the biologist etc. Lots of 330 bulls but very few bulls over 350. Do not hesitate to shoot a 350. I however have 9 bulls that are over 350 scouted and I have not even covered 1/2 the unit. The one officer who has been in the unit since the early 90s says that this year is the best he can recall for antler growth, stating he feels like the bull have on average have 20"+ more growth than a normal year and likely 30" vs a dry year.
As another point timing of moisture make a huge difference. This unit is notorious for have small 3rds. This year I am finding bulls all over with monster 3rds.
My theory is that when the 3rds are usually growing the animals are starting to switch over feed types and plant types on a normal of dry year. As a result the 3rds are stunted but by the time the tops are growing they have transitioned to a higher quality feed. This year the late moisture allowed the bulls to grow significantly larger 3rds as they stayed on that feed longer into the year. I am not not sure if this has resulted in smaller tops, but definitely some amazing 3rds this year...
As for deer I have a 4th tag in a unit I have hunted since I was in high school I know the unit very well. I will be able to tell if it seems like it made a difference then.
jm77
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Very interesting elks, would be nice to know what really happens and why.
Over the course of the last ten years I have been fortunate to find sheds from the same bull. I believe I have eight years of the same side from this bull. He is unique in that his first three tines are well above average and his royal and fifth tines are below average. In those eight years the variations in length are usually 1 to 2 inches, but never more than 3inches per specific tine.
Where I am going with this is I don't believe a bull will increase any specific tine length, after they are in their prime, by anywhere near the tune of three times, no matter how wet the year. That is more likely governed by the genetics of their rack I think, based on previous sheds I have found from the same bulls. But who knows?
Look forward to seeing the bull you get!
Over the course of the last ten years I have been fortunate to find sheds from the same bull. I believe I have eight years of the same side from this bull. He is unique in that his first three tines are well above average and his royal and fifth tines are below average. In those eight years the variations in length are usually 1 to 2 inches, but never more than 3inches per specific tine.
Where I am going with this is I don't believe a bull will increase any specific tine length, after they are in their prime, by anywhere near the tune of three times, no matter how wet the year. That is more likely governed by the genetics of their rack I think, based on previous sheds I have found from the same bulls. But who knows?
Look forward to seeing the bull you get!
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