ORIGINAL: rybohunter
You bring up a good point, yes, parts of Pennsylvania (especially where you and I are located) have great habitat for deer with ample amounts of nutrition for the deer. Honestly though, if the genetics are equal, and we have the amazing nutrition that these areas do, then that would mean it must be an "age" thing...but that wouldn't explain why an average Pennsylvania whitetail will generally score less than an average Canadian or Illinois/Kansas/Iowa whitetail of the same age. That makes me wonder just how much hunting pressure could affect antler development. I wonder if the stress of having 1 million plus hunters in the woods of a smaller state each year can have adverse effects on antler growth.
1. I don't think we know what the "average" potential for a buck is in PA. Just not enough live that long. Factor in the wide slot in which fawns are born and you even further set that back cause even a genetic wonder born in the beginning of july is going to take a while(3 years)to recover and even out (or surpass) bucks of his same age class.
2. Habitat across this state varies WIDELY. A buck living in the rich farmland is going to bemore well fedthan a buck living in a stand of mature timber. THe timber whitetail is not going to reach his potential due to the availabity of food.
3. Factor in the skewed buck to doe ratio and poor age structure where many 1.5 get to breed rather than save that energy towards growing...adn again, they need longer to reach thier potential.
4. I'd also like to see the average age of a "big" buck taken in PA vs the places you mentioned. Remember to 90% of the people in PA a 2 1/2 year old buck is a monster.
Bottom line is that PA is a complete unknown as far as potential of growing huge bucks goes. I think far too few places have the combination of food AND age AND herd structure to allow the genetics to really show thru.
This couldn't be put more accurately. Well said.
