Rain

[Bigwiffy]

It's raining. Antler growth will be big.

 

[elkassassin]

Is There A Measurable Trace Though?

 

[Bigwiffy]

4 inches, 4 drops, 4 inches apart

 

[elkassassin]

A Utah Drencher!

 

[Bigwiffy]

Ok I take that back. Incredible hail storm in Southern Utah. Golf ball sized hail, lots of flooding. More on the way

 

[rmanwill]

Yep. Just talked to buddy in Cedar. Plows pushing mud and boulders off road up canyon, due to good rain. That's what we need. Be down that way for archery and muzzleloader deer. Hoping it keeps some green groceries on the hill for the deer!!! Good reports on deer so far this year.

 

[elkantlers]

Will rain this late have much of an effect on antler growth?

 

[Vanilla]

Will rain this late have much of an effect on antler growth?

Not this year, but will still help a ton nonetheless.

 

[schoolhousegrizz]

Will rain this late have much of an effect on antler growth?

I think it will definitely have some. Some still have 3-4 weeks of growing to do. All probably have close to 2 weeks.

 

[Vanilla]

I think it will definitely have some. Some still have 3-4 weeks of growing to do. All probably have close to 2 weeks.

I’ll accept that as entirely true for purposes of this discussion. And the rain that falls today is producing increased edible feed when? And that edible feed once consumed translates to increased antler growth in how long?

I maintain these rains won’t help antler growth this year. But we still desperately need them, so bring it on! If we have a great monsoon season that will have more impact on next year’s antler growth more than this year’s at this point.

 

[Shadow]

All you hope for out of the monsoon rains at this point is that it will help with the fires. It won’t affect antler growth at all, this late in the game.

 

[Robiland]

I am curious to if any of these flash floods fill any lakes at all or make a dent in the low level, empty lakes?

 

[rmanwill]

We need the moisture for sure. The current rain will keep things green and help with fires and fire restrictions.

My main thing this year is not antler growth at this point, but if feed is there and green for the deer it keeps them on top where they are visible and huntable. Keeps water in known water holes.

Last year was real dry and the deer drop off the top and down in the heavy oak and never would leave it. They slept in it, stayed in it all day for shade and just ate acorns right there. That's about the tuffest hunting there is in my opinion. Can bump them around, but can only see there legs if you get on your knees or prone.?

 

[Bigwiffy]

Antler growth is fine this year, in fact better than I've seen in super wet years.

 

[JakeH]

This moisture will effect antler growth as long as the feed they had wasn't already completely dried up. These storms keep whatever nutrients the feed had in it rather them drying it up completely.

I've personally seen bucks explode the first 2 weeks of August so I know it definitely can have an effect.

 

[ruger1022]

I think the main benefit of the moisture we are receiving will be filling up ponds and guzzlers. It may be too late for antler growth, but it’s not too late to help some fawns and does get healthy before winter.

 

[2lumpy]

As I recall, in discussions regarding antler growth, with scientists that claim to have proven knowledge, for what that’s worth, antler grow is most affected by protein obtained the previous fall and how much bone marrow survived the winter. Most spring grow has good protein from any winter moisture but the summer moisture forage goes toward next years antlers. But you could probably find plenty of different opinions, depending who you ask.

 

[Vanilla]

I've personally seen bucks explode the first 2 weeks of August so I know it definitely can have an effect.

I have too. It was not due to real time rain at the time. That is just not how growth and nutrition work. We still need the rain, independent of that, and that storm was great for what we need. If we could get a few more over the next 6-8 weeks, that would be great!

 

[Bigwiffy]

Not quite like that one. Little smaller please

 

[schoolhousegrizz]

I'm no biologist and I could be wrong. Common sense tells me that the plant would suck up the water in a matter of hours, and then if the deer eat those plants there would be more water in it that would affect their bodies almost immediately. If their horns are still growing, I don't see why it wouldn't help their horns grow. Somebody please explain.


I know most the horn growth is done, but it's not over. So how could it not help?

 

[Bigwiffy]

I'm no biologist and I could be wrong. Common sense tells me that the plant would suck up the water in a matter of hours and then if the deer eat those plants there would be more water in it that would affect their bodies almost immediately. If their horns are still growing I don't see why it wouldn't help their horns grow. Somebody please explain.

If the plant was made of Viagra your hypothesis would no doubt hold water.

 

[buckhorn]

If the plant was made of Viagra your hypothesis would no doubt hold water.

I hope those Kaibab bucks get a good dose of Viagra. I’ll be looking for a hard horny buck!

 

[Blank]

The problem with hanging out with all these biologists and range conservationists I call friends is I occasionally pay attention to what they argue about, and learn a little in the process.

Those deer are a lot like us, and nothing happens with their bodies quickly. We can't lose lots of weight without starving ourselves, or put on tons of muscle without gorging and exercising. They are the same. Their growth is largely dependent on the foods they eat all year. Their digestive systems require a minimum of 5-7% protein, in order to work efficiently. Up around 12-14% is perfect, and over 16% is excess and can go directly to antler growth. That's why game farmers feed protein supplements, but only on top of regular quality feed.

It's the same with water, they need enough to stay hydrated, but water doesn't control growth, just the utilization of nutrients they are consuming. The DMD (dry matter digestibility) of their food is greatly affected tho. The more water throughout the year, the more minerals that can be slowly absorbed from the ground into the plants, and it is the phosphorus and calcium that we want to see in the plants. That is a very slow process. Spring and summer water keeps them alive, and certainly help lactating does raise fawns. Fall and winter water grows better quality, nutritious feed sources.

Just what I learned from the Holiday Inn Express they made me stay at!!

 

[Bigwiffy]

The problem with hanging out with all these biologists and range conservationists I call friends is I occasionally pay attention to what they argue about, and learn a little in the process.

Those deer are a lot like us, and nothing happens with their bodies quickly. We can't lose lots of weight without starving ourselves, or put on tons of muscle without gorging and exercising. They are the same. Their growth is largely dependent on the foods they eat all year. Their digestive systems require a minimum of 5-7% protein, in order to work efficiently. Up around 12-14% is perfect, and over 16% is excess and can go directly to antler growth. That's why game farmers feed protein supplements, but only on top of regular quality feed.

It's the same with water, they need enough to stay hydrated, but water doesn't control growth, just the utilization of nutrients they are consuming. The DMD (dry matter digestibility) of their food is greatly affected tho. The more water throughout the year, the more minerals that can be slowly absorbed from the ground into the plants, and it is the phosphorus and calcium that we want to see in the plants. That is a very slow process. Spring and summer water keeps them alive, and certainly help lactating does raise fawns. Fall and winter water grows better quality, nutritious feed sources.

Just what I learned from the Holiday Inn Express they made me stay at!!

That is why I'm fatter now than I was when I was a kid, it's taken time to form this physique.

 

[Blank]

Hahahaha! It's the water.

 

[hossblur]

I'd be more excited about it shutting down fires more than growing horns

 

[DeerHunter53]

How about if the rains continue we might be able to have a camp fire in camp this year. It is a dismal camp without a fire in the middle of it where you can drink eat and joke about how good of a hunter you are..........

 

[Trix4me]

How about if the rains continue we might be able to have a camp fire in camp this year. It is a dismal camp without a fire in the middle of it where you can drink eat and joke about how good of a hunter you are..........

More like how good of a hunter I used to be ?

 

[Zeke]

More like how good of a hunter I used to be ?

The older I get, the better I was.....or so my stories tell it that way!

While antler growth is somewhat important to us as hunters, the water is needed for ALL life itself so trophies take a back seat to living.

Zeke