Donnie Draeger used to believe in culling deer to improve antler genetics. Plenty of moisture has the grass growing quickly and food will be plentiful this spring and summer for optimal antler growth for the mule deer as well as the whitetail bucks. As you can see his antler size has made a dramatic jump since June 15, and in the next few weeks his antler growth will continue rapidly during the peak growth period of mid-June to mid-July. Antler growth typically begins in February or March. Over his career as the wildlife biologist at the Comanche Ranch in southwest Texas, he’d spent a … FONTS Mule deer Antler Growth Range conditions Genetics -Nutrition is based off of the range conditions -Range conditions are the weather, terrain, and quality of a mountain range or area -weather is things such as how much it has rained and snowed, or if a drought has hit, how 3 1/2: When a whitetail reaches 3 1/2 years of age, its skeletal frame is done growing. Plenty of moisture has the grass growing quickly and food will be plentiful this spring and summer for optimal antler growth for the mule deer … In my opinion too many people try to put too many rules on animals. These cell types secrete growth-stimulating hormones that act mainly on the antlers and incidentally on the testes. In May the days continue to lengthen and antler growth accelerates, with most of that growth occurring during June and July – which means that at this time of year, you can practically watch a rack growing larger before your eyes! Mule Deer are good swimmers, though they rarely use water as a means of escaping predators. Mule deer antlers fork once 6-10 inches from the base and then each branch forks again in the classic mature form. He is still a 4x5 and his antlers are 166 inches. In this way, male deer have hardened antlers by the time mating season rolls around, so they can assert their dominance on the breeding grounds. Feed to deer, elk and exotic deer as a supplement to native habitat or pasture. Fishing. The increasing amount of daylight corresponds with decreased melatonin levels, which, in turn, trigger a surge of hormones in the young deer, inciting antler growth. The Keys to Deer Antler Growth. In the spring and summer a mule deer's antlers are covered in velvet. Understanding the rate of antler growth relative to age is important when developing a harvest plan. As I mentioned, this would be ideal. Topics that surround how fast deer antlers grow, what elements are essential for trophy deer antler growth, what States provide the basic ingredients needed for antler growth of deer, conservation programs to assist in antler development of whitetail deer, and much more. Use only as indicated. From this point on the nutrients that previously went to bone growth can be transferred to antler growth. More Hunting ... but a Mother-Daughter Team Finally Killed Two Massive Colorado Mule Deer. Antler growth is initiated and controlled by changes in day length acting on several cell types of the anterior pituitary. From That to This (Deer antler growth) Discussion in 'Hunting & Fishing' started by huntemup, Oct 6, 2017. His skeleton has stopped growing and no longer requires as much mineral nutrients. For best results feed free choice in a covered trough or self-feeder. “DW” was just about done shedding his winter coat, and already showing good antler growth about 1 1⁄2 months into the process on June 25th. Factors That Affect Deer Antler Growth and Development. During April, the first month of antler growth, the antlers grow very little, usually only a few inches. May: Look for visible G2’s and antler beams should be at about half their final length. The most common type of antler restriction is a point restriction. As males reach maturity and beyond, their antlers may grow differently on … His antlers have a gross score of 122-inches (B&C).
And one is that the size of a yearling’s antlers is seldom a predictor of what its antlers it will be when it fully matures. Survival. They need the best nutrition possible since antler is growing at the fastest rate during the next two months (nearly half an inch per day under the right conditions). April. At 3 1/2 this buck was again an 8-pointer, but now he is beginning to show antler potential.
Mossy Oak Properties Big Game While this is a massive oversimplification, generally speaking, when we are looking at bucks or bulls the old ones are the ones that catch our eye. If a whitetail with 400 inches of antler was a viable model in the wild, it would have a place in the bell curve. Outside the fence where survival must be earned, a 400-inch whitetail is the inferior deer. Consult the feed tag on this package for specific feeding directions. Whitetail Deer Antler Growth Process. During peak antler growth periods, bucks may experience a 20 percent decrease in mineral content in other bones. As you may already know, all male deer (family Cervidae) grow antlers.They are used for warding off predators, sparring with other deer, and they attract female deer (doe) during the mating season (like a male peacock's feathers). This, in part, explains why there is typically a big jump in antler growth between age three and four. By age four a buck is mature. On July 19th, less than a month later, he was showing incredible growth and was already a very impressive deer! The annual cycle of antler growth is regulated by changes in the length of the day. A 200” whitetail or mule deer will have substantial growth right now and usually when you see them in late may or June you know they will be big. Mule deer return to their summer ranges as soon as the snow starts melting and temperatures begin to warm. All members receive 3 free listings a month. They fascinate us. Page 1 of … Species generally have unique antler con˙gurations and the mule deer version is not shared by any other living deer. The result was several with 3" plus of antler growth. Here is the general timeline of the whitetail deer antler growth process by month. But whitetails of this size exist only where they are created and cared for by deer breeders. Hunting The Country DEER SEASON Deer Antler Growth Cycle. Ideally, hunters will shoot bigger bucks if they simply provide the genetically-best bucks on their property with optimal nutrition until they reach 5-8 years of age. In my June 6 and June 20 blogs I shared with you a specific buck’s antler growth (150-inch-class buck). By Charles J. Alsheimer. During the growth period, the pedicle is covered with a highly vascular skin, called “velvet,” that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the developing bones. Bucks in this category have legs that appear too short for their body. Mule deer have no upper teeth, only a hard palate. When antlers are in the velvet stage they are full of blood vessels, cartilage and nervous tissue. Every deer is different and can do different things from year to year. His body weight at death was 130 pounds and his antlers were 105 inches. March 26, 2020. The annual cycle of antler growth in the mule deer is initiated and controlled by changes in day length acting on several cell types of the anterior pituitary. New Growth A deer’s antlers begin growing during March and April and reach full growth …
Research has determined the average percentage of maximum antler growth bucks achieve at each age class. Let us explore the details of whitetail deer antler growth and information. A buck's antlers fall off during the winter, then grow again in preparation for the next season's rut. In March of 2014 I made a trip to Texas to pick up 100 jugs of Mass XL for the 2014 season. western mule deer antler growth, 200" buck, can you tell right now? From this point on he shied away from other mature bucks and became very reclusive. Deer Herd and Antler Growth. growth in future years. Guest Classifieds changes. Click here for all the info. In the same area, same year, I've seen bucks that were basically done growing end of July and rubbed their velvet mid-August, while other bucks put on quite a few inches in August and were still in velvet my last day of chasing them mid-September. Young deer grow their first set of true antlers the first spring after they are born, at 10 to 12 months of age. Deer Antler growth usually begins during the early Spring in response to changes in growth hormones from the pituitary gland which stimulates antler growth. Deer begin to grow antlers between late March and early April. Biologists say it takes more than the right rain at the right time. Antler restrictions are harvest restrictions that limit buck harvest to animals that meet specific antler criteria. Antler point restrictions have been used as a harvest strategy with the hope they will increase the number of large-antlered bucks in a mule deer population. Normally, deer antlers are fairly symmetrical, especially in immature animals. During this time, the soft growing antler is covered with hairy skin, called "velvet". Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a baby they often only have one fawn. Here is the general timeline of the whitetail deer antler growth process by month. The whitetail deer are also shedding their winter coats but don't have as much hair as the mule deer have , so they don't appear to look as shabby. The reality in this case is a 90 acre property that currently has bucks that are lacking antler mass. Yearling bucks will usually sport a spike or two-point frame, but a three-point frame is not that uncommon. 10 Early Ice Fishing Walleye Tactics That Will Put You on the Bite. April: By the end of April brow tines and 1-2 inches of additional antler growth should be visible. June: Antler growth should increase dramatically this month, look for all the main points on the antler … The annual cycle of antler growth is regulated by changes in the length of the day. Whitetail deer begin to grow their antlers in the spring, and you'll start to see deer losing antlers in the winter.
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During the rut they should have noticeably larger tarsal glands that are dark-stained with some staining possibly extending down their legs. Antler growth among the deer family including whitetails, mule deer, elk, moose, and others is among the most unique happenings in nature. Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a fawn, they often have just one. The whitetail deer are also shedding their winter coats but don't have as much hair as the mule deer have , so they don't appear to look as shabby. Get unlimited listings for just $10 a year! Antler growth starts at the tip and initially forms as a cartilage, which is later replaced by a bone-like tissue that is similar to a honeycomb. In my Western backyard alfalfa hits the spot, but across the Midwest deer also seek out soybeans and clover-based food plots. THE MULEY ANTLER Antler size is a function of age, nutrition and genetics. Select Bucks for Harvest Based on Age After taking our mule deer fawns off the does in August we fed them Mass XL mix with our ADM 18% mix. While unable to detect motionless objects, mule deer are very sensitive to moving objects and their sense of hearing is very acute. By Andrew McKean. Feed AntlerMax® Mule Deer 16 deer feed free-choice with adequate forage or quality hay.
From the time antlers begin growing in late March through the end of April, growth is minimal. Today’s photo shows what he looked like on July 1. Biggest whitetail I ever killed was gross right at 200” may 17th was the first day I laid eyes on him he was …