Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
Great pics. Earlier then normal for some being hard horned?
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
Dang. Was waiting for him to show up.
He didn't gain squat from last year..
He didn't gain squat from last year..
tall@wide
PMA Member
Almost all of the bucks on my farm gained nothing or shrunk. I think the continuous drought over the last few years has hurt them.
theDoorman
Active Member
Same here. Most of them are the same as a year ago.
You guys still have some dandies!!!
The years of not gaining…. So strange. We’ve had these discussions for 20+ years. I still think rain has the most impact. Clearly more to it than that. I’ve got good gains on MOST deer this year. A slim minority didn’t do much. Maybe the only thing I can think of I MIGHT have different is insane diversity of food & crazy tonnage of natural browse.
Impacts on antler growth: RAIN, deer #’s too high, natural browse, winter, how hard bucks rutted year before, was there more corn or beans?, alfalfa around, etc. Another one…. I would say that has some impact…. When there’s an abundant acorn year (vs very sparse) - I think the deer the following year will be healthier/bigger racks - that’s a long delay there but acorns play a part in this IMO. Lot of moving pieces here.
The years of not gaining…. So strange. We’ve had these discussions for 20+ years. I still think rain has the most impact. Clearly more to it than that. I’ve got good gains on MOST deer this year. A slim minority didn’t do much. Maybe the only thing I can think of I MIGHT have different is insane diversity of food & crazy tonnage of natural browse.
Impacts on antler growth: RAIN, deer #’s too high, natural browse, winter, how hard bucks rutted year before, was there more corn or beans?, alfalfa around, etc. Another one…. I would say that has some impact…. When there’s an abundant acorn year (vs very sparse) - I think the deer the following year will be healthier/bigger racks - that’s a long delay there but acorns play a part in this IMO. Lot of moving pieces here.
tall@wide
PMA Member
It's definitely has a lot of moving pieces. On my farm, I have plenty of food and water. Clover, alfalfa, beans, corn, etc.. I do not supplemental feed and that may hurt. I've talked to a lot of Iowa hunters who say minimal growth this year and it makes me think last year's weather has a big impact on this year's antlers. Just a guess.