Antler Observation

[SM1]

At the Red River Valley Sportsmans show this past weekend in Fargo, there was a whitetail deer display with three live bucks. They were each in separate pens and two still had antlers. All three were nice deer. It was cool to see them up close without having to stay perfectly still as if I was in a stand.

Anyway, this diplay also included shed antlers from a deer they had that passed years ago. Complete shed sets from 1.5-8.5 yrs.

One obvious observation was how much bigger the sheds were at the 4.5, 5.5, & 6.5 yrs as compared to the 2.5 & 3.5 yrs. Well duh, you might say right!!

Well the thing that stuck with me was most of the "average" bucks taken across MN fit in the the 2.5-3.5 yr age group size and never really reach their potential. Just think if we all let these deer pass for another season or two before pulling the tigger/letting the arrow fly? I think MN would have a different reputation with some people if that were the case. Just something to ponder..

[brassman]

I have to say those displays are pretty cool, but one thing to remember is that those deer have more than enough nutrition to get by and a wild deer in the big woods might progress a little slower, but your right, let them go so they can grow, does taste just as good.

[Musky Buck]

Right on SM1, we currently for the most part just keep recycling over and over younger bucks, some slip through the cracks but it is fewer of them than years ago when they had some safe havens to grow old in, not many safe havens in much of MN anymore and with longer seasons and more pressure, there you go.

[Musky Buck]

The bucks on my land are just starting to shed, had roughly 8 -10 on film last week, a few appear though to have shed, a few had 1 horn, and several had both sides.

[SM1]

Reality is this practice of passing on these 2-3 yr deer just won’t happen for most hunters. And for some it doesn’t have to, its not always about taking the trophy but spending the time with family and friends with any venison being a bonus.

For those who would go for it, I think it could be best done on private property especially if its a large acreage or if the neighbors follow suit. The benefit could be seen after a couple seasons. Set your own camp "slot limit", stick with it and look forward to the future. Definitely something I will push in my camp, and I don’t think I will have much opposition.

[Musky Buck]

Right on SM1, we have been practicing this since 1995 and it will pay off, it has in our area.

[vister]

i'm not being rude, but DUH! remember, i totally agree with you! For those who say that MN isn't a big buck state, horsepoo. If more hunters only passed on them youngins, imagine the deer we would have.

TEXANS WOULD BE COMING TO MINNESOTA!

MNs genetics are pretty good. Most deer harvested are 2.5-3.5 years of age. For those looking to fill the freezer, try taking a doe if ya get a chance. instead of passing on some looking to take a buck, then settling for a spike, basket or fork on the last day of the season.

If you are passing on deer of any sort, then to me you aren't hunting for meat!

[PEATMOSS]

i'm not being rude, but DUH! remember, i totally agree with you! For those who say that MN isn't a big buck state, horsepoo. If more hunters only passed on them youngins, imagine the deer we would have.

TEXANS WOULD BE COMING TO MINNESOTA!

MNs genetics are pretty good. Most deer harvested are 2.5-3.5 years of age. For those looking to fill the freezer, try taking a doe if ya get a chance. instead of passing on some looking to take a buck, then settling for a spike, basket or fork on the last day of the season.

If you are passing on deer of any sort, then to me you aren't hunting for meat!

YES!!! This is what we need. More folks coming from out of state, buying up timberland,leasing private farmland.....this would be truly FANTASTIC.

[Musky Buck]

But Peatmoss they already can if they want, apparently they don't want so that's good news right. There aren't too many larger style quality tracts of land for them anyway, they'd rather have elk,mulies, since they have the money anyway and we have a great road block called Iowa that they can hole up in. It's a pay to play sport and if they have the economic resources, they can do as they wish. Vister, MN can and does produce a lot of great bucks every year because enough people pass on yearling bucks and if they don't wander off your property, they have a chance to be that trophy. Vister you are in that gold mine Bertha to New York Mills area, fast growing racks, mostly private land, I call it big buck alley.

[PEATMOSS]

This mentality scares the crapp outa me.

[vister]

my response to texans coming to MN was in regards to coming on a hunting trip here. Just cause I go to wyoming elk hunting doesn't mean I'm buying 25,000 acre ranges.

I'm just referencing on the fact that i'm sure alot of your buddies have thought about going to texas to shoot a trophy whitetail. well, if every mn hunter passed on the young bucks here, then texans would want to hunt up here for trophy whitetails. GET MY POINT! they aren't going to buy our land for it. How many 'sotans have bought texas acreage strictly for hunting?

Musky, I know mn has quality deer. this weekend i'll be at the classic with a 13 pt shoulder mount, and my 16 pt bow opener beauty.

[PEATMOSS]

And my point was simply, what do you think that Iowa teenager who can't hunt on his neighbors farm because it is leased to an outfitter thinks?

[vister]

not really any different than not being able to hunt my neighbors property because they hunt it.

[Musky Buck]

My dad warned me in 1983 it could be a pay to play sport, he drove by a ranch in 1983 near Dallas Texas and it was $40,000 bucks a year to be a member, that was years ago, and if dad was telling me the truth. Right on Vister, we just slaughter those little guys and to the honest meat people go ahead, to the shooting got to get crowd, give em a year.

[SM1]

Right on Musky, deer hunting isn’t always cheap.

The main thing I was trying to point out that some people may not realize that in just a short period of time (1-2 more years) bucks have the potential to get much bigger antlers. I know this seems obvious, but there was a large enough size difference in the older deer's antlers at that display to make me stop and think. Some might say "it was captive deer" and that’s why, but put genetics, nutrition and hunting pressure aside this still applies to the general population.

Background on me: I've hunted 17 seasons in MN spending almost "too many" days out each season between bow, gun and muzzle loader. In that time I have taken a handful of very nice bucks that I’m proud of. So this is an observation I made recently despite the experience I have.

I’m not saying anyone has to do it, but seeing the huge size difference was enough for me to place a "slot limit" on the bucks I take from now on.