Bad genes?

[BROCKSTAR76]

I have a deer in my herd that looks like he has a pretty small rack. Should I take this deer out of the herd or leave him and see if he grows into a decent year. I’m almost positive this deer had the exact same rack last year that’s why I’m a little concerned. I don’t want him breeding any if his rack is no good.

 

[T-Max]

Most 1-1/2 year olds have small racks. Often times much smaller than that. That's a future Booner.

 

[Drycreek]

Yeah, that buck is young, all he needs is about four more years.

 

[Native Hunter]

Over the next few years just train him to climb the steps and come up the back deck. He will be right next to the Weber grill when you take him down.

 

[yoderjac]

I have a deer in my herd that looks like he has a pretty small rack. Should I take this deer out of the herd or leave him and see if he grows into a decent year. I’m almost positive this deer had the exact same rack last year that’s why I’m a little concerned. I don’t want him breeding any if his rack is no good.

That is a big misperception in how genetics and epigenetics work. You need to spend some time listening to the MSU deer lab podcasts. You will see that trying to cull for antler size in a free ranging deer population is a fool's game.

You are not going to change genetics through harvest selection. If you have sufficient scale and resources, one can change the epigenetic expression through habitat improvement.

As others will tell you, the antler size on young deer is not a good predictor of antler size at maturity.

For most folks, "Culling" bucks is simply an excuse to shoot young deer and make is socially acceptable. If you want to shoot a young buck, shoot it because you want to. Don't delude yourself into thinking you are making a positive impact on the herd.

 

[KSQ2]

Most smaller antlered 1 year old bucks are just late fawns. They catch up eventually.

 

[mississippi]

I have a deer in my herd that looks like he has a pretty small rack. Should I take this deer out of the herd or leave him and see if he grows into a decent year. I’m almost positive this deer had the exact same rack last year that’s why I’m a little concerned. I don’t want him breeding any if his rack is no good.

The deer may not start to develope his real genectics till he is 3 years old.
we have had several bucks that were spikes for some years and later on became 6 and 8 and 10 points.?????