I think you're right... I don't believe the whole genetics thing... if you feed a human good fatty foods for a year, they are going to get bigger! If you feed a normal sized person alot of protein and minerals they are going to get stronger. Why isn't it the same for deer?
Genetics
Is it possible to boost/aid genetics of deer with food plots? I mean if a gangly little buck eats the good stuff for a year or two will he turn into a king of the woods breeder buck? If a family of does eats for years will that make for healthier offspring? Or is genetics just what is handed down to them? I'm thinking of doing that in my back yard in the strip between the woods and the corn field. I'm just looking down the road and wondering what would happen in a few years with the deer herd. I wouldn't be killing anything there either I would just be growing nice healthy deer, right? Any suggestions/tips/advice?
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I dont think feeding an animal the best foods will have any impact on genetics. It will however make him as big and healthy as his genetics allow.
Short of gene splicing I dont think genetics can be altered.
Short of gene splicing I dont think genetics can be altered.
+1. You make help him "be all he can be" but he still won't be a book buck without first having the genetics. Kinda like saying that Pee Wee Herman could be Shaq's size if you fed him enuff! :biggrin:I dont think feeding an animal the best foods will have any impact on genetics. It will however make him as big and healthy as his genetics allow.
Short of gene splicing I dont think genetics can be altered.
There has been so much written on how big bucks get big I sometimes wonder why there have only been 2 #1 typical bucks in something like 100 years. Jorden (spell)and Hanson bucks. Bucks have to have excellent Genetics to ever have a chance of growing world class racks. Nutrition then has to be perfect during the entire season and the then the buck needs to be able to repeat it for 5-6 years. How much is genetics and nutrition and luck? I think my own take would be something like 40% genetics, 40% nutrition, and 20% luck. TG, I think it would be hard with limited land to ever really make any significant improvement in buck quality. However, I can think of no reason not to plant quality forage for the deer especially in a nutrient lacking high deer density environment.
I agree with HM...There has been so much written on how big bucks get big I sometimes wonder why there have only been 2 #1 typical bucks in something like 100 years. Jorden (spell)and Hanson bucks. Bucks have to have excellent Genetics to ever have a chance of growing world class racks. Nutrition then has to be perfect during the entire season and the then the buck needs to be able to repeat it for 5-6 years. How much is genetics and nutrition and luck? I think my own take would be something like 40% genetics, 40% nutrition, and 20% luck. TG, I think it would be hard with limited land to ever really make any significant improvement in buck quality. However, I can think of no reason not to plant quality forage for the deer especially in a nutrient lacking high deer density environment.
And once you grow that big buck,he may travel 20 miles chasing does.
I think if you keep them health for generations and cull them when they get past 6 or 7 you could probably get monster bucks. You would need total nutruition. Minerals... Variety of food... a lot of land.... and 20+ years
But if you have limited land all you are going to get to see is fat health does and the rare good buck. Which sounds pretty good to me
But if you have limited land all you are going to get to see is fat health does and the rare good buck. Which sounds pretty good to me
It would still take a lot of property to do that.
I have alot of property behind my house and surrounding areas too. Maybe I'll give it a shot in places too see what happens.
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