A lack of late archery bucks showing up on here

[JLS]

Genes are genes and it doesn't matter what age you pass them on at.  Still the same DNA.

[huntnnw]

Not sure what dates your referring to about 124. I hunted the 24-28th and they were definatly chasing those days, but like I said earlier only one mature buck.
  It is puzzling that the lack of mature bucks around seems to be affecting the entire NE corner.  This area is very diverse and there is no one thing I can put a finger on that would affect the entire region.  For instance take winter kill.  Where I hunt it is lowland farming in the area.  The deer have it pretty easy down there and it takes a very severe winter to affect this area.  Last winter was bad and I was expecting to find more winter kill than normal this spring.  I spent a decent amount of time out there this spring and did not see much at all.  Same for predators, have not come across any sign of fresh kill.  Then I thought maybe it was the mild weather and moon phases pushing them more nocturnal.  This likely affected hunting but they should still be showing up on cam.  I saw 10-12 bucks that were 3 point or better last year and just one this year.  I know some of the bucks i saw were pushed down by snow, but should still be seeing more.
  I also have a genetics question that might be another topic for another day.  Does a younger deer breeding pass on weaker genes?  I have taken a couple biology classes and from what i unserstand your DNA is not going to change based on age.  Wether a deer is 2 or 10 he is still going to pass the trait of large antler growth if he posseses it.  It seems if a deers father was a massive 5x5, he will at least carry the large antler trait as recessive, i would guess that would be a dominant trait though. So if he breeds at 1 1/2 he is still passing a trait of large antler growth.  Anyone have any idea on this? I

Always cracks me up when i hear people say "weak" genes or etc when a young buck breeds. DNA is DNA that buck at 1 1/2 or 10 yr has the same DNA reguardless of age

[gjbruny]

.  Does a younger deer breeding pass on weaker genes?  I have taken a couple biology classes and from what i unserstand your DNA is not going to change based on age.  Wether a deer is 2 or 10 he is still going to pass the trait of large antler growth if he posseses it.  It seems if a deers father was a massive 5x5, he will at least carry the large antler trait as recessive, i would guess that would be a dominant trait though. So if he breeds at 1 1/2 he is still passing a trait of large antler growth.  Anyone have any idea on this? I

the genes will be the same regardless of the age. when your hear people talking about younger deer breeding not being a good thing..... it is not that they are passing on inferior genes...... it is simply the fact that in healthy deer herds, the largest strongest bucks do battle for the rights to do the majority of the breeding thus passing on the strongest of genes. if you have a lot of young bucks doing the breeding, two things are going on..... there is not a healthy population of mature animals in the herd and the buck to doe ratios are out of whack..... this means that it is a virtual free for all and that everything in the current gene pool is passing on its DNA. in herds with healthy B to D ratios with proper age structure..... the little guys don't get to breed nearly as often and the breeding age bucks really have to "earn" their right to breed. the ones that do prove themselves do the brunt of the breeding thus passing on their strong traits.

having said that, the biggest strongest deer don't always have the biggest set of bones on their heads. body mass and power will almost always beat out antlers in breeding battles.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Yep...genes are genes it doesn't matter how old a buck is. It also doesn't take much to have a lot of genetic diversity. There is an island off New Zealand that has a population of whitetail that started decades ago with one buck and nine does. Today there are over 1,500 deer on that island (their hunted) and the antler diversity is as great as anything you will see in the United States.

Good info in this article below on how unbalanced herds can actually lead to genetic potential not being displayed due to the stress on the yearling bucks being forced to physiologically mature faster than they should.

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/2010/09/22/huntingtactics_naw_maturebuck_200808/

[jnevs23]

That's what i thought but it's been a couple years since I have studied genetics.  Genetics/ DNA are very interesting, I've been thinking of taking an upper level biology that deals specifically with genetics but I've been wussing out lol. I agree huntnw, you hear so much misinformation that eventually you start questioning what you know (or think you know).  Well back to the homework, huntwa has been my excuse to stop studying the last two nights.

[huntnnw]

well the last 2 days Ive started to see the older age class bucks show up after months of being gone

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Pics??

[huntnnw]

no..Ive seen 3 of them..no cam in one spot and the other is overun with moose

[DBHAWTHORNE]

good luck brother

[huntnnw]

thx...u still up there?

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Yeah...got some new spots that I am checking tomorrow. It's a crap shoot at this point. I am scrambling to find something I want to shoot.

[huntnnw]

goodluck to ya

[NWBREW]

As much as I may hate to say it I think the primetime for whitetails went to the Modern firearms this year. That first heavy snow up there seems to have had them big boys out for a few days in mid to late Nov.  Usually it seems to happen around the first week of Dec. .   I think they were confused. 

[huntnnw]

It was good in Ferry co Nov 15-26th

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well if I WAS BOWHUNTING I would definately be out today ... Been freezing over here on the wetside but it has warmed up today and drizzling....deer should be on the move today.....Been pumped all year about taking my oldest son on this late bow hunt but he has pi$$ed me off and we have not went yet  :bash:This is seriously killin me ... but the little sheet is not getting away with his actions ....