Why are Deer bigger in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Texas???
#41
They've got fences up north too... although moreso of the "low" variety.
I'm all for that...
I believe the going rate is around $20,000 to $25,000 per mile. 10,000 acres is about 15 square miles, so, let's round down a bit and say 5 miles by 3 miles, that's 16 miles of fence, at $20K per, is about $320,000...
You guys should build one along the Mexican border. A high fence.
How much does it cost to put a high fence around, say 10,000 acres???
#42
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,862
No kidding! If every landowner in Texas gave up 10 feet of their deer fences to put along the Mexican border you would have the illegal immigrant problem solved in this country!
#43
Not trying to insult anybody. But we don't need a fence to grow a big deer. That strategy basically means that you captivate deer, breed them within your confines, feed them your feed, then kill them to hang on the wall. Again just my opinion but that sounds more like farming rather than hunting.
#44
yes deer are bigger there cuz of better soil and quality food in the midwest. The real reason they are bigger is because they are allowed to grow up. Short gun seasons and gun seasons not directly in the peak of the rut allow bucks to grow up and reach maturity. If they are not allowed to grow up they cant get big!!! no matter how much food there is and how good the soil is. This ones common sense boys!!
#45
Not trying to insult anybody. But we don't need a fence to grow a big deer. That strategy basically means that you captivate deer, breed them within your confines, feed them your feed, then kill them to hang on the wall. Again just my opinion but that sounds more like farming rather than hunting.
#46
Everything everyone is mentioning are ALL factors as to why midwestern deer are bigger. (abundant food, mineral rich soils, lower hunting pressure, better management practices, shorter gun seasons, better genetics) ALL THESE ARE TRUE!! The debate now is which is the most important. But first i think people interpreted the original question differently. Are we talking rack size, body size, both. etc. Are the animals in the different areas we are comparing them to the same ages? IMO if we are comparing a buck (or doe for that matter) that are the same ages from the midwest and anywhere else the mineral rich soil is the key along with ABUNDANT food in bigger body and rack size. That being said better management practices, short gun seasons, lower hunter #s, etc. enable deer in the midwest to grow up and reach maturity. This does not happen in most other areas. So therefore if allowed to grow older obviously the deer are bigger there!! No matter how rich the soil and how much food there is if someone shoots a buck at 1.5 he cant get big!! The question has multiple right answers-it just depends on how you are interpreting the question. Imo genetics is the least of all influences here no matter how you look at it. A genetically superior buck with poor nutrition will not equal a genetically inferior buck with great nutrition. Thats a fact!!
#50
Fork Horn
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 473
The No.1 county in the country for big bucks (P-Y and BC) is Buffalo County Wi. Why? Mostly private land ,good genetics and folks just don't shoot too many small deer. Very Hilly and deer have a chance to age,of course good genetic's
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