Only 6 states currently have statewide ARs, so it is obvious the majorit of deer mangers do not feel that statewide ARs are the proper way to manage the herd.
The number of states that do or do not have antler restrictions has nothing to do with proper or improper deer management. Most state never had the problem of annually over harvesting their bucks so they never had to establish a season structure designed to protect any of their bucks. In states where the buck harvests have been excessive though the professional deer managers all agree that antler restrictions of some form are the most logical method of obtaining a more natural buck/doe ratio.
There are also some states where the professionals do see a need for antler restrictions or some method of protecting more of their younger bucks even though they haven’t been able to implement them because of a lack of public and/or political support. That actually means that those states are being mismanaged. That same problem occurred in this state for many decades. Fortunately we have improved in public education enough to have increasing support for both antler restrictions and more people better understanding the need for both professional and scientific deer management goals and objectives.
If ARs are a proper deer management tool why did rack sizes decrease across the entire state of MIss. and why did our breeding rates decrease by 5% and our buck harvest decreased by 46%?
There are a number of professionals that question the results of the Mississippi study do to the methods used. But, even if their buck antlers did decline there are many possible causes. Perhaps the fact that they harvest their bucks before the rut could enter into the reason? Perhaps variables in the environmental conditions, such as more drought years, could enter into the reason? I am sure there are many more but I haven’t concerned myself with the problems in Mississippi to know what problems they might or might not have. The bottom line is that no one really knows if they really declined let alone what the reason might have been.
The same can be said about the 5% statewide decline in the breeding rates. It hasn’t been established yet that there really was a decline but even if there really was there are a number of issues that could very possibly lead to a decline besides the affects of antler restrictions.
As for the 46% decline in the Pennsylvania buck harvest there are also many things besides antler restrictions that could cause that. For one thing we know the deer population is lower so of course there will be fewer bucks in the population. It is also a fact that we had lower fawn survival rates following the harsh winters of 2003 and 2004 and that also means fewer bucks in existence for hunters to harvest.
The fact that hunter can only legally harvest and since hunter numbers have declined it is only logical that the number of bucks harvested would also decline. The percentage of hunters that harvest bucks hasn’t declined much over the years though.
Below is a chart of Pennsylvania buck hunter success rates:
Years………………….Buck hunter success rate
1985-1987.………………..15 %
1995-1997.………………..18 %
2005-2007.………………..16 %
The amount of hunters in support of antler restrictions in Pennsylvania is also increasing as can be seen in the following.
Hunter support for antler restrictions:
2002.…………………57 %
2007.…………………63 %
Here are also some comments from the “Ask the Biologist” section of the Game Commission’s Web site.
************************************************** ******
Antler restrictions are killing our best genetics by harvesting 6 & 8 pointers 1.5 year olds. What do you think?
Antler restrictions have been a positive for Pennsylvania’s deer management program. Since antler restrictions started in 2002, yearling buck survival has increased (from 15% to 52%), harvest of adult bucks has increased (from ~20% to ~50% of total buck harvest), and hunter support has increased (from 57% to 63%). However, there are still criticisms, many of which center around genetics. The argument that we are removing our “best” yearling bucks from the population, which in turn is affecting population genetics, is common. However, when we take a closer look, with the help of new technology and research, the genetics concern is unfounded.
First, deer are wild animals in an uncontrolled environment. Unlike a bull in a pasture full of cows that can’t run away, a buck’s world is full of competition. Bucks compete with each other and must compete for receptive does. Genetics research has shown that yearling males are participating in breeding even in populations with 50% of males being 3.5 years old and older. Since most of Pennsylvania’s bucks are harvested during the gun season and AFTER the breeding season, a yearling buck that is removed has likely already had the opportunity to breed and pass on his genes.
Second, recent research has shown that the amount of growth in the first set of antlers in white-tailed males is a poor predictor of antler growth at maturity. A study conducted over 10 years which followed hundreds of wild, free-ranging white-tailed bucks from their first set of antlers found that by the time bucks reached maturity (4.5 years old), there was no difference in antler measurements between those that had spikes or 3 points as yearlings compared to those that had 4 or more points as yearlings. This suggests that spike and 3-point yearlings can grow the same size antlers as yearling bucks with 4 or more points. All have the capability to produce large antlers at maturity.
Third, let us not forget that all deer receive genes from both their parents. To date, no one has classified the genetic contribution of a doe to her male fawn’s antler growth. And in Pennsylvania, there is no harvest selection on adult does. Their removal is “genetically” random.
Even if we wanted to alter the genetics of Pennsylvania’s deer herd, it would be extremely difficult to do.
************************************************** ****
How often do mature bucks mate in a season? How often do the largest "Monarch bucks mate in a season"?
New technology is revealing more about the white-tailed deer than biologists 50 years ago could even imagine. Animals can now be genetically identified. Research involving genetics has shown multiple paternity and yearling male breeding in all populations that have been studied. The long standing model of deer breeding ecology was that mature, dominant bucks monopolized all the breeding activity, excluding participation by younger males, especially yearlings. But genetics research has shown that yearling males are participating in breeding even in populations with 50% of males being 3.5 years old and older. And most males only sire one litter. With most females coming into estrous at the same time, it is impossible for one buck to dominate all breeding activity.
However, this does not mean that he has only mated with one doe.
Females play a role in breeding as well. Until the genetics spotlight was turned on, it was assumed that twin or triplet fawns were full siblings. However, there is about a 20-25% chance that litters with multiple fawns are sired by different bucks. This means females are mating with multiple bucks during her estrous cycle.
The bottom line is that mature bucks have a lot of competition and the biggest ones are no exception.
************************************************** **********************
And, the real bottom line is that BTBowhunter is probably correct when he posts his pictures of beating dead horses.
Antler restrictions are almost certainly here to stay in Pennsylvania and are probably going to be expanding into even more states where the professional deer managers have concerns about over harvesting the buck populations.
R.S. Bodenhorn