why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

how come places like pike co. illinois or iowa, get huge bucks? while some other states have deer but they dont get as big as other states?

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

To cut it down to its simplest terms, nutrition and genetics.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

MObow hit it on the head food sources and genetics.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Yes like they said food sources and genetics. The midwest and up into canada probably the best areas to find bigger bodied deer due to all the agriculture and good deer management practices.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

States like Iowa, Kanasas and Ill have hunters who can not shoot, these guys can not hit a deer until they are 250lbs[8D]

States like MI, NY, PAand MD have guys kill fawns at will at 50 yds,they are such good shots, I know you midwest guys only wish you were as good as us:)

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Lots of agricultural land to feed the deer a good diet, long term quality deer management practices, steep or hilly terrain that makes it difficult for hunters to get to, in effect making sanctuaries for the deer to hide during season, I think Iowa has lower hunting pressure (specifically non-resident hunting), rifle seasons that are shorter and do not coincide with the peak of the rut prevent more good bucks from being shot... lots of reasons.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

We feed em beer and brats here in Wisconsin!

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Genetics and nutrition are only a part of why deer are bigger in some states and it has more to do with the overall health and antler size than average body mass.

Climate is the only reason why, on average, animals get bigger. The farther north you go the bigger the animals get as a general rule. The larger the body the better it is able tomaintain its corebody temperature during the winter months. That's why Florida deer only weigh about 150 pounds, Iowa deer will weigh 250, Canada deer can weigh up to 400 pounds. It's a product of adapting (evolution) to the environment where they live.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

The colder the climate the more hearty the deer will be. Thats why you see 300 pound deer from Canada. Its true large racks come from good genetics, but good genetics comes from quality deer management. Example- Missouri my neighbor state has there gun season right at the peak of the rut. Poor judgment. Western Missouri has the same crops and food sources that we have here in Kansas but when it comes to big bucks Kansas puts a spankin on them. Missouri's deer population is est. clost to 1 million while Kansas is 400,000. You get one buck tag in Kansas and you have to choose witch weapon you will use to get it. If I don't get a buck with my bow buck tag I can't transfer it to my gun. Quality management produces big racks.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

I know i will get shot for this in MI, but 1 buck tag is a great idea, andI am all for it.

BTW motown I notice the your post being very educational lately, very well written and making serveral great points. Are you feeling okay?

Keep it up, I am enjoying your work!!

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Right, but that would still be genetics, yes?

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Bingo, It also explains why their women folk parallel the same reasoning.[:-]

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

I hunt up on the Mississippi north of Dubuque, IA and there a TON of HUGE bucks up there. The guy who owns the land and I came to the conclusion this last week while I was up there that it's the acres and acres of high protein alfalfa that they grow for dairy farming. It's LOADED with high quality protein that is essential in growing racks. The best thing, it's available throughout the year...

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Maybe it's that the hunters are not as good a shots as they are in some other states, thus the deer live longer and get bigger.......




or maybe not......geeeeezzzz, I was only kidding....

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

You guys are overlooking a huge part of body and antler production.....

The areas soil quality is the determining factor of how nutritious their diet is. Poor soil = poor nutrition.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

For body size, there's a rule ( Bergmanns rule?), that the farther north of the equator you go, the larger the body size gets in order to deal with the colder environment. This also goes hand in hand with food quality and supply.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

I was watching a t.v. show on TOC and they had 2 sets of racks, side by side, offenced indeer that were the SAME age. At 1 1/2 yrs. one was a spike while the other was an 8 point. Both were fed EXACTLY the same high quality food. They ate out of the same feeder. The spike, consistently, grew small antlers each year and lived to be 6 years old. While the 8 point grew HUGE antlers w/massand is still alive.It goes to show that genetics is the MAJOR factor in antler development, while nutrition plays a minor role.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

I also personally feel it has to do with the amount of undeveloped land in a given area. Northern Indiana is VERY industrialized, every time you turn around they are cutting down trees and putting up foundry's, office complex, shopping center, etc... We have a ton of nice deer up here, but we don't have nearly the environment statewide for them to reach full maturity due to the overpopulation of hunters vs. hunting grounds available. I do feel as though the one buck rule is working in Indiana, although it's frustrating to have your buck tag filled as you watch a monster walk by, it keeps the numbers in check. We are starting to gain steam in recent years for pulling out some decent bucks.

We also have the corn fields all over the dang place, so that helps a little. Perhaps if Indiana would start to conserve it's natural resources rather than squander them away on industry, we would see more quality bucks taken out of this state.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

i dont really know but id say genetics is the key factor. alls i know is South Western KY has some huge deer. 195 nontypical killed 500 yards from my farm last year. wat a heartbreaker.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

I look at some of the pictures of deer and some seem small compared to N Dak and Mt. deer. I really think the deer are healther like some onesaid in the north country. Also all the grain,corn,beets ect. as a big part in size and antler size.

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

the biggest reason that there are bigger is it relates to one main thing and one think only it is that they live!!!!!!!!You can have all the nutrition a bigger subspeices the best food the best minarals but if he dies in the first year he wont amount to nothing !!!!!!!!!!!!! now the reason way alot of the mid west deer are living is because they use shotguns and slugs during gun seasons , also it is normly after the rut is over!!!!!!!! limit the amount of buck tags also! also limit the amount out of state tags!!!!!!!1OH is a great deer state because you get one buck tag, no matter gun, bow, muzzle or crossbow!!!!!!! i wish maryland would go to that or even antler restrictions!!!!!!!i bet if MI would drop the rifle during gun season you would see more bc and top end deer come out of that state!!!

RE: why do deer get bigger in some states?
 

Good point, I was going to mention that. The big bucks have a much better chance when they're not getting picked off at 2-300 yards.