Wildlife: July 2008

Most land managers interested in white-tailed deer management are ultimately interested in producing deer with large antlers. Previous work, including that at Texas Parks and Wildlife's Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerrville, determined that antler quality is influenced by a combination of factors, the main components being age, nutrition and genetics. In free-ranging situations, nutrition is closely linked to habitat quality. Without good habitat and the good nutrition it affords deer, bucks will not realize their antler-growing potential. Habitat management, therefore, is the foundation of sound deer management.

1.5 years

2.5 years

3.5 years

4.5 years

5.5 years

This series of photos of a wild, known-age buck on the NFWU is a good example of how age can affect antler quality.

Genetics contribute to antler quality, however, in my opinion, "genetics management" receives a lot of unwarranted attention these days. Genetics is the least understood of the three components contributing to antler quality and the most difficult to manage for impacting deer, especially in a free-ranging herd. Antler traits appear to be heritable to some degree, but they are influenced by a host of factors (e.g., birth date, maternal lines, habitat quality, weather, etc.). Poor genetics do not limit antler quality in most deer management programs.

That brings us to age. In our service area of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, age is often the limiting factor of antler quality. If you are interested in big antlers, deer have to get some age on them. Unfortunately, most bucks are harvested when they are 1.5 to 2.5 years old. A deer may have "Boone and Crockett" genes, but if he is harvested at 1.5 years old, he will never realize his antler-growing potential.

Our work on the Noble Foundation Wildlife Unit (NFWU) yielded numerous examples of the age/antler quality interaction. Not all bucks end up making the "Boone and Crockett" record book, but, given time, many eventually develop respectable antlers.