I've watched growing deer.TV on YouTube for a long time and Dr. Grant has always had very informative and quality information. In the video they discuss genetics vs nutrition. Missouri state university did a study on deer in good quality habitat and compared them to deer in poor quality habitat. Definitely worth checking out. https://youtu.be/ovvpgyUWGSQ
Thanks for sharing this. Your link is broken in your initial post. Here's a fixed link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovvpgyUWGSQ
I watched this a couple of days ago. Dr. Woods and his staff always do a good job of using science to improve deer habitat and health of the herd.
Yep, I watched it the other day. It was really good and reinforces what I thought on the matter. That would have been a really fun study to be a part of.
Incredible episode. I posted a thread about it a bit ago not realizing it was already posted. Episodes of GDTV are always good but this one was awesome.
This always fascinates me. If you ever get to hunt two dramatically different regions of the country, it will become quite clear that nutrition is an enormous player. I live and hunt in PA and when I go to the midwest each year, its clear that amount of high quality food sources that are available within arms reach makes those deer in the midwest larger. Its really not rocket science though. Look at football players. They take a big kid out of high school and turn them into 300lb linemen all the time. Genetics does play a part, just like it does on humans. Some deer, like humans, are just destined to be larger. Give them the right nutrition and you'll see them reach their full growth potential.
nutrition and soil quality is what makes genetics. its like this for example. sandy soils vs fertile soils, sandy soils bucks dont get mass but they grow nice tines vs where rich fertile soils they can grow mass and good tine length. for agriculture fed vs native browse fed. Bucks are able to grow better antlers and body size better than a naturally browsed fed deer. salt mineral supplement vs natural. bucks are able to grow better antlers and body size supplementing on salt minerals over naturaly not supplementing on salt minerals. Anyways i like that show.
Transplate a genetic beast from Iowa to the UP of Michigan and his genetics don't change. Nutrition will downgrade what his genetics can produce but his genes don't change.
An excellent video with lots of great information. Dr. Grant always does a good job of presenting information on deer/land management.
I didn't realize so many of you were fans of gdtv. Thanks for the updated link I didn't realize it didn't work.
I thought it was very good. Hunters also blame antler deformities like where one side is mutated vs the other on genetics which is not true. A lot of missunderstanding, or maybe it's easier to try to blame what we can't control.
GdTV is a great production any hunter would benefit from watching. Mr. Wood has a great knack for speaking about things in a common sense common man type of way.
I caught this on Monday when it was posted. Dr. Grant does great work and I enjoy watching his shows. He's always real informative.