So you have a buck with a deformity and you wonder why the antler growth is abnormal? Interesting.
Its not a defotmity, or skeletal injury; it a skin injury that aided in identification every year. It never appeared to affect his physical growth (he dressed 197 this year), so I feel it was negligible.
Also, is there a reason you didn't comment about the quote I posted about the latest research on dominant breeding?
Yea, I completely forgot. I would say yea that's pretty consistent with my understanding of a whitetails breeding ecology. I talked to Randy last summer. We really didn't discuss this topic, however. I was more interested in hearing about the recent GPS study they did that found bucks were taking excursions; and that home range size does not seem to be related to age whatsoever.
The fact that bucks of all age classes breed, and that a buck dosen't monopolize breeding could be used to support my point.
Assume theres an over populated area with 40 does and 20 bucks. Each will breed 2. Assume there is 40 does and 40 bucks, each will breed one. More bucks = more bodies absorb the stress; therefore, each individual experiences less stress.