Wildlife management discussion: Antler restrictions

[2rocky]

I am wondering if having antler restrictions in a unit creates a selection force against larger antler size, particularly when hunter numbers are not limited.

I'm thinking about in Alaska 50" moose with 3 brow tines on one side....Does this select in favor of 40 inch moose with less than 3 browtines?

I'm thinking about the 4 pt or better elk units in Colorado. Many of these units are OTC. Does that select against 5 and 6 point bulls? does it select FOR the biggest toughest raghorn?

I have read many Whitetail states did see their average whitetail buck size increase with antler restrictions, along with doe seasons.

My question is whether that is as true in other Deer species.


I don't have a dog in the fight but it seemed like an interesting discussion.

 

[the nikster]

If I harvest all the big ones, like I do, then only the raghorns pass on their genetics, sooooo
It would seem to follow that average antler size would regress.

 

[Mudranger1]

my thoughts which dont mean much...genetics are there...the raghorns are just younger....so with putting an antler restriction on is only allowing for the elk to get a little bit older

 

[npaden]

my thoughts which dont mean much...genetics are there...the raghorns are just younger....so with putting an antler restriction on is only allowing for the elk to get a little bit older

+1.

It is very difficult to change genetics in a free ranging herd. No one seems to remember that the antlerless side of the equation (does and cows) contribute at least 50% of the genetics relating to antler growth and it's pretty hard to selectively harvest them based on antler traits that they carry but are not displayed since they don't have antlers.

99% of the time age is the lImiting factor in antler growth or the lack thereof. If you shoot them at 2 or 3 years old they aren't going to have the antler growth that they would when they are 6 or 7 years old.

Another factor that few seem to acknowledge is that often the bucks or bulls with the larger antlers may or may not be the ones who end up doing most of the breeding. Sometimes the big bodied small antlered bull or buck is the dominant one and they do the bulk of the breeding. Sometimes the satellite bulls have bigger antlers than the herd bull. Also it has been documented that sometimes the younger bulls or bucks end up doing some of the breeding when the dominant bull or buck is otherwise occupied.

In short, genetics is a very complicated matter and right now no one understands it enough to really know one way or the other.

That's my 2 cents. Nathan

 

[DHaffner]

+1.

It is very difficult to change genetics in a free ranging herd. No one seems to remember that the antlerless side of the equation (does and cows) contribute at least 50% of the genetics relating to antler growth and it's pretty hard to selectively harvest them based on antler traits that they carry but are not displayed since they don't have antlers.

99% of the time age is the lImiting factor in antler growth or the lack thereof. If you shoot them at 2 or 3 years old they aren't going to have the antler growth that they would when they are 6 or 7 years old.

Another factor that few seem to acknowledge is that often the bucks or bulls with the larger antlers may or may not be the ones who end up doing most of the breeding. Sometimes the big bodied small antlered bull or buck is the dominant one and they do the bulk of the breeding. Sometimes the satellite bulls have bigger antlers than the herd bull. Also it has been documented that sometimes the younger bulls or bucks end up doing some of the breeding when the dominant bull or buck is otherwise occupied.

In short, genetics is a very complicated matter and right now no one understands it enough to really know one way or the other.

That's my 2 cents. Nathan

Great post, the one thing I would add is there are more hunters that desire opportunity than those of us that would prefer quality. Antler restrictions allows some balance between the two. For example, our Black Hills deer unit is very low on quality bucks (120" or bigger) but is still a 2-6 year wait for a buck tag. As a result of falling deer numbers they have had to dial tags back to a point that people who have been used to hunting 40-50 years straight are missing multiple hunting seasons in a row. If we had a 4 point on one side restriction they could issue more tags allowing for opportunity and still reduce the impact on the herd. Unfortunately, that isn't on the table here...