Whitetail genetics

[SoonerMedic]

So, my question is this....do you think or know of research that has been done to back up that genetics determine the structure of antlers in bucks?
This is why I ask. Looking at my first buck vs the one I shot a couple days ago, the structures look nearly identical. It's kind of hard to tell from the pic, but they both share identical design. From the difference in length of brow tines (the left side is longer on each) to identical bifurcations to exact same number of points and identical number of points on each side....what do you guys think?
My opinion is that there is a strong correlation, but could it be so closely related that they grow nearly identical antler structures?


Edit: I should add that both were shot on the same small piece of land 3 years apart.

 

[BigBore44]

It’s simple genetics just like in humans. Some genes have dominant traits. Some are recessive. But just like in humans, sometimes deer don’t follow the trait patterns of our parents. They can go back generations. And overall size isn’t necessarily determined by genetics. It’s health and nutrition. There have been several studies that show that even deer without the best genes can grow horns (antlers) of large size if fed well.

Your bucks are almost certainly related. We have a small place up here on a preserve that is quite large. And in one corner of the property, there is a propensity for the deer’s antlers to have substantial palmation. This occurs on other places of the property. But when I spoke to the biologist in charge of the property, he said that it occurs in something like 80% of the bucks from that one parcel. That’s genetics. Not food.

 

[entropy]

There is an elk farm about 3 miles down the road from me; genetics are definitely a major factor in rack structure. Of course, like humans, recessive genes will occasionally pop up and create an anomaly, but for the most part, good dominant genes, along with a good diet, produce the best racks. These factors are controlled on the elk farm, and they produce some outstanding racks. I've seen some beautiful 7x7's in the run. First time I saw one, I nearly ran off the road!

No hunts, they sell the sheds and meat, and provide breeding stock for other farms.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

of course genetics play a role. although I don't see much the same in those racks except the brow tines and no of points.

ive seen it in cattle often. 25 years ago we had a bull that threw calves with a white tail head. today we still have a couple of cows with that same white tail head. even tho they are a couple generations removed from that bull.

if you want to really learn about deer genetics, visit some deer farming forums. they are all about genetics and of course nutrition also plays a role.

 

[SoonerMedic]

of course genetics play a role. although I don't see much the same in those racks except the brow tines and no of points.

It's not as noticeable in this picture, I'll take one of them from the side and it'll become more apparent as to why I think they are related.

I guess I should be more specific. I think what I was shocked about is that the antlers are almost exact in the way they grow. There are variations like width and mass differences, but in general the likeness is really uncanny....well or not since I guess it's a pretty well known thing apparently lol.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Basically I think you shot Daddy Buck and his son or grandson....

LD

 

[Axis II]

Genetics do play a role IMO. My buddy has an amazing farm that is a whitetail heaven and it also helps having almost 500 acres of no hunting all around him. In 5yrs i don't think id ever seen a typical type rack come off that place. Everything out there is either a drop tine, non typical with trash, 6 on one side and 4 on the other, palmation, etc. I know a guy who hunts down the road and says the same thing that everything within a square mile has some sort of goofy rack.

 

[buck460XVR]

If rack size/shape wasn't hereditary, there would be none of those "management" bucks shot on pay to hunt operations and private lands managed especially for whitetails. I've seen similar racks come off certain spots many times over the years. Actually passed on a buck this gun season that was almost a perfect smaller version of the buck I shot during archery season, in a different stand only 100 yards away. While there are many variables as to what constitutes rack shape/size, such as age, diet, health and available minerals, genetics does also play a part since everything about us(and deer) is controlled by the genes given to us by our ancestors. I used to hunt a large area of public land that was heavily pressured during the normal 9 day gun season. Seemed the norm there was small, dark, scrubby racks, even from 3 year old bucks. Local wildlife biologist once told me that while the available natural food, age and the minimal amount of mineral available to the animals was a major factor, he also felt that because the smaller darker racks were harder to see in the heavy woods of the area, that hunters, over 50 years of intense hunting had inadvertently "culled" the area of bucks with genetics for large antlers. IOWs, large horned bucks were more easily and quickly identified as "legal" and thus were shot at more often then those bucks that were hard to identify as "legal". Mother Nature's way of evolution, to benefit the species so there may always be a necessary number of bucks to breed the available does.

 

[SoonerMedic]

Basically I think you shot Daddy Buck and his son or grandson....

LD

Hold my beer.

First buck 3 years ago.


Buck I shot saturday.



3 years ago.


Saturday.

 

[Captcurt]

I've had areas where the deer had only one brow tine. The farm that I hunt now has mostly 8 pointers and the last 2 good bucks that I have taken have brow times that curve forward. Pretty cool.

 

[Rembrandt]

Although I know little to nothing about genetics, I was surprised to learn this from a deer breeder in our area. He had several 350"-to-375" plus bucks that all came from the same doe. His theory being that the genetics of the mother were as important if not more so than that of the male.

 

[alsaqr]

In 2010 i worked at Camp Williams, Utah where we provided EOD support to the construction to the company doing dirt work there.

Camp Williams, Utah has the biggest antlered whitetail deer i have ever seen. Deer there die of old age because no hunting is allowed. One afternoon a buck was killed by a vehicle. Got my measuring tape out, that 12 point buck had an inside spread of 27 1/2 inches. The antlers were simply massive. In 1988 i killed a 12 point typical buck that scored 192 B&C points. Antlers on that Utah buck were larger.

 

[Captcurt]

In 2010 i worked at Camp Williams, Utah where we provided EOD support to the construction to the company doing dirt work there.

Camp Williams, Utah has the biggest antlered whitetail deer i have ever seen. Deer there die of old age because no hunting is allowed. One afternoon a buck was killed by a vehicle. Got my measuring tape out, that 12 point buck had an inside spread of 27 1/2 inches. The antlers were simply massive. In 1988 i killed a 12 point typical buck that scored 192 B&C points. Antlers on that Utah buck were larger.

That is a combination of good genes, feed and age. The best genetics around doesn't matter if the deer never live past 2 or 3 years.