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Genetics

Discussion in 'Whitetail Deer Hunting' started by jlbmarine, Jul 15, 2013.

  1. jlbmarine

    jlbmarine Weekend Warrior

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    I thought bucks just walked up to a doe and manifested another buck from thin air? with the same rack......
     
  2. Fitz

    Fitz Legendary Woodsman

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    No silly, the stork brings the baby deer...
     
  3. jlbmarine

    jlbmarine Weekend Warrior

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  4. Skywalker

    Skywalker Grizzled Veteran

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    Another thing that people often forget to consider is injuries that cause the rack to grow differently. There are a lot of guys that would see a deer that's had an injury and state that the deer had poor genetics, but that wasn't the case. It was merely deformation do to injury. These deformations can be temporary(a season or two) or permanent, depending on the type and severity of the injury.
     
  5. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

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    Agreed! This buck is now pushing 6 years old, 3 years ago he was recovering from an injury and his rack was VERY spindly and scrawny...many would have said he's gotta get out of the gene pool. This was him last year still unable to use one of his back legs as he should be able to but man would he be a trophy on my wall!

    (before people attack me for the age I quoted...he's never put on the body frame I know he would have with two healthy back legs. We have pictures of him dating back years so I'm quite sure to say without a doubt at the youngest he's 5 1/2 this year.)

    [​IMG]
     
  6. ChuckC

    ChuckC Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Good point on the injuries fella's!
     
  7. uncljohn

    uncljohn Weekend Warrior

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    Genetics at work.....
     
  8. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

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    That's awesome if pure genetics, if perfectly healthy that deer would make some freaks!
     
  9. uncljohn

    uncljohn Weekend Warrior

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    And here is his son or younger half brother.

    Prior deer has a big body and is named Scrappidus Maximus (i.e. Scrapple Rack). Honestly I'd shoot it for the unique rack.
     
  10. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

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    Yeah just saying that thing lives a few years I'm dropping it just as fast as a P&Y!
     
  11. Skywalker

    Skywalker Grizzled Veteran

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    There's no doubt that genetics play a major role in a deer's rack, but it's only part of the equation. We also have to keep in mind that the fawns you see running around your property usually end up other places as they mature. A doe will kick that fawn off and instincts will have them find new territory. This is a natural process so that it cuts down on interbreeding. So, unless you are managing a large number of acres, the genetics that are being produced on your property by the resident does will probably end up several miles away.
     
  12. GregH

    GregH Legendary Woodsman

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    I believe that it's a bit more complicated than that.

    The doe fawns remain close to their mothers area. They form family units that hand together fairly tight. The buck fawns are the ones that disperse. But it isn't uncommon that they show back up later in life.
     
  13. Skywalker

    Skywalker Grizzled Veteran

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    Sorry, you are right. I should have said buck fawns. My point is that genetics is only part of the puzzle. If you are culling bucks to eliminate genetics you may not be as effective as you think because bucks from distant properties may be just as likely to spread their genetics to your resident does. I'm sure with the right plan a positive impact may be achieved, but for me being the only one hunting my property and having limited tags, I'm not burning one on a buck that I wouldn't hang on my wall.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
     

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