Buck, Doe, or Both responsible for antler size

Horsager Said:
 We see a big buck and assume he'll make offspring with at least the potential for large antlers.  I think everyone could reasonably make that assumption.

Speaking for myself, a doe is a doe.  Granted some are older and larger, some younger and smaller but I haven't a clue by looking at any doe if she has an potential for passing along a trait that would allow for her mature offspring to produce large antlers.

Pappa obviously has something to do with it.  Mamma must have something to do with it.  Any idea how to figure it?

I'm too lazy to look and sick of talking politics.

X2 but I would imagine your on to somthing here, I think I will look.

Genetics Important to Deer Antler Growth

Genetics is an important factor surrounding whitetail deer antler growth. This is easy to see among human beings, as often times when two very tall people produce a baby the baby will also be tall. Therefore it is vital for an area to hold huge whitetail bucks in possession of high scoring whitetail deer antlers in order to pass on the genetics to the next generation of whitetail deer. The reason genetics plays such a minor factor regarding whitetail deer antler production is because you can take a deer with the greatest of genetics and supply him with poor nutrition, only to see a results which are minimal at best. Normally no matter what the genetics of a given area may be in regard to whitetail deer antlers nutrition will always somehow produce a quality bucks you seek.

Just like people, deer are born with a genetic code that dictates what potential their characteristics have, including antler development. Some bucks are destined to become absolute monsters while most make up the majority of "average" bucks. Nature has a way of perpetuating the species and it is through this "survival of the fittest" that the strongest specimens propagate the next generations. There is very little you can do to affect the gene pool in the area you hunt. You can, however, do a little research into what regions have been producing larger numbers of big bucks and try to hunt there.

A buck's potential for antler development is contained within his genetic material. In other words, his antler potential is determined by the combination of DNA from both his sire and dam. The buck's environment, or quality of his habitat, and his age affect the physical expression of his genetic potential for antler development. Genetic potential for antler development is only a management concern if you are involved in selective harvest of bucks. Selective harvest decisions can be used to manipulate the "genetic composition" or the "standing crop" of a population. Management for "genetic composition" of the population involves altering gene frequencies in a breeding population such that there is an increase in genetic potential to grow larger antlers. Genetic composition can be manipulated only if you can judge the genetic potential of bucks and then increase the reproductive success of the superior animals. These are significant challenges under any management scenario. Our inability to judge a female's genetic potential for antler development is another significant problem. Given the severe limitations to success, manipulation of population-level genetics may not be a viable management option. Management of the "standing crop" of a population can provide both positive and negative effects, depending on the approach to selective harvest. Standing crop can be manipulated to improve antler development of surviving bucks if there is an excess of bucks within a population and you have the luxury of selectively removing "inferior" animals. Removing these animals leaves more forage resources for bucks that have greater potential to grow larger antlers. Standing crop can be managed effectively only if you can evaluate future antler development based on current antler development. A hunter must be able to accurately judge antler development within age classes and then selectively harvest inferior animals. The reverse approach, selective protection of inferior-antlered young bucks and removal of superior-antlered young bucks can negatively impact standing crop antler development. Nutritional factors which affect the initiation of pedicle growth during a buck's first winter and antler growth during subsequent spring and summer will affect the expression of a young buck's genetic potential for antler development.





Genetics Important to Deer Antler Growth

Genetics is an important factor surrounding whitetail deer antler growth. This is easy to see among human beings, as often times when two very tall people produce a baby the baby will also be tall. Therefore it is vital for an area to hold huge whitetail bucks in possession of high scoring whitetail deer antlers in order to pass on the genetics to the next generation of whitetail deer. The reason genetics plays such a minor factor regarding whitetail deer antler production is because you can take a deer with the greatest of genetics and supply him with poor nutrition, only to see a results which are minimal at best. Normally no matter what the genetics of a given area may be in regard to whitetail deer antlers nutrition will always somehow produce a quality bucks you seek.

Just like people, deer are born with a genetic code that dictates what potential their characteristics have, including antler development. Some bucks are destined to become absolute monsters while most make up the majority of "average" bucks. Nature has a way of perpetuating the species and it is through this "survival of the fittest" that the strongest specimens propagate the next generations. There is very little you can do to affect the gene pool in the area you hunt. You can, however, do a little research into what regions have been producing larger numbers of big bucks and try to hunt there.

A buck's potential for antler development is contained within his genetic material. In other words, his antler potential is determined by the combination of DNA from both his sire and dam. The buck's environment, or quality of his habitat, and his age affect the physical expression of his genetic potential for antler development. Genetic potential for antler development is only a management concern if you are involved in selective harvest of bucks. Selective harvest decisions can be used to manipulate the "genetic composition" or the "standing crop" of a population. Management for "genetic composition" of the population involves altering gene frequencies in a breeding population such that there is an increase in genetic potential to grow larger antlers. Genetic composition can be manipulated only if you can judge the genetic potential of bucks and then increase the reproductive success of the superior animals. These are significant challenges under any management scenario. Our inability to judge a female's genetic potential for antler development is another significant problem. Given the severe limitations to success, manipulation of population-level genetics may not be a viable management option. Management of the "standing crop" of a population can provide both positive and negative effects, depending on the approach to selective harvest. Standing crop can be manipulated to improve antler development of surviving bucks if there is an excess of bucks within a population and you have the luxury of selectively removing "inferior" animals. Removing these animals leaves more forage resources for bucks that have greater potential to grow larger antlers. Standing crop can be managed effectively only if you can evaluate future antler development based on current antler development. A hunter must be able to accurately judge antler development within age classes and then selectively harvest inferior animals. The reverse approach, selective protection of inferior-antlered young bucks and removal of superior-antlered young bucks can negatively impact standing crop antler development. Nutritional factors which affect the initiation of pedicle growth during a buck's first winter and antler growth during subsequent spring and summer will affect the expression of a young buck's genetic potential for antler development.

Same for politics here, too Clay.  I suppose one could wonder how to tell what human female would tend to have Olympic offspring too!   
Hard to look in the family tree of does, though.   I suppose a big strong healthy one might be more likely, but then if you are out to shoot a doe she's probably the one you'd take.   I tend to take the fawn of the year for freezer filling in normal years and normal deer populations.  Taste the best and are supposedly  the most likely to winter kill.

Ive always gone by th theory that the doe fawns of the big buck will carry his genes.

WSWAT Said:
Ive always gone by th theory that the doe fawns of the big buck will carry his genes.

They have to, that is how genetics work.  It's not a theory, it's scientific fact.  Unless she was screwing around on him behind his back and got knocked up

Both parents donate half the genetic material! The problem is with antlers it's only expressed by one parent and visual you have no idea what the doe has unless your'e selectively breeding and know the lineage. Plus  you never know how the genetics will match up! For instance look at your siblings?  Do you all look alike? Not always! Same with deer. Just because both parent deer have some quality genetics doesn't mean it will all match up! Just the odds are better.  You also need quality nutrition and age to go with it for  it to express it's true antler potential!

 See how much more relaxing and entertaining this is!

if the gov. got involved everyone would have the same size rack:)
sorry horsager i couldn't help myself.