Interesting Graph Upper Shoshone Mule Deer Antler Size

[mightyhunter]

I saw this at the Cody Meeting. It is a graph of antler size for mule deer harvested from the Upper Shoshone Herd. Those of you thinking about booking a guided mule deer hunt in the area for 5k-7k might be interested in this graph. Just sayin…mh

 

[Bookhead]

I would say most mule deer anywhere are 24-27" wide at full maturity besides maybe Mexico.

 

[Stillwater165]

Interesting……. now why is that blue line taller than the others in 5 out of the 6 categories hmmmmm !

 

[elkmo41]

Inside spread? Without a sample size does it tell much? Is it 100% of harvested bucks?

 

[ICMDEER]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting stuff. I agree that it makes a big difference if it's inside or outside spread. And I doubt they have many bucks in that sample in the 5, 6, and 7 year old categories for each year.

Either way, it is cool stuff and I wish we had this sort of info in the southeast part of the state. Our biologists tell us there are no bucks 4 or older, so maybe that's why we don't have the data. (Even though we kill 4+ year old deer every year.)

 

[mightyhunter]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting stuff. I agree that it makes a big difference if it's inside or outside spread. And I doubt they have many bucks in that sample in the 5, 6, and 7 year old categories for each year.

Either way, it is cool stuff and I wish we had this sort of info in the southeast part of the state. Our biologists tell us there are no bucks 4 or older, so maybe that's why we don't have the data. (Even though we kill 4+ year old deer every year.)

I agree with you on any sample size of 5,6 and 7 year old bucks. They don’t exist for the most part. Most of the bucks harvested are 2-4 year olds. They have run the lion, wolf and hunter gauntlet until they screw up. Not usually very heavy antlers. Lots of older 2x3, 2x4 etc. type bucks. For years, the biologist used to use a three classification antler size system that he had picked up in SW Wyoming. It wasn’t even close to reality. I had a friend kill an 18” 4x4 in the area. The warden guessed 3 years. It was aged by G&F at 7. Just sayin…mh

 

[Joe2Kool]

It would be interesting to see the number of deer in each sample size. I'd guess in any study, the 5,6,7 year-old category is much smaller, than 2,3,4's.

It is interesting to see the relationship between the blue, orange, and red bars is the same for 2,3,4,5 year-olds. I'm guessing that is an external factor. Moisture? Harsh winter? Late spring greenup?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[mtncowboy]

Interesting graph, thanks for sharing. I would say this is outside spread. I have never had the game and fish measure inside spread on a buck and I think that is usually what they refer to.

 

[nfh]

Where is the 25 to 30 inch bucks?

Probably never made it through the check station is my guess

 

[West River]

I saw this at the Cody Meeting. It is a graph of antler size for mule deer harvested from the Upper Shoshone Herd. Those of you thinking about booking a guided mule deer hunt in the area for 5k-7k might be interested in this graph. Just sayin…mh

View attachment 141242

 

[West River]

Here are the ages of the deer measured