mrfishy34

what is up with the huge deer in canada......
like the ones in albera and sasakawan? like what do they eat and how do they get so big. just want to know what there diet is

would like to know why there are huge bucks up in canada but not in North Dakota?

The biggest in North Dakota that i have ever seen shot was a 230lbs 5 by 5 with a 25 inside spread

Canaduck

Hey Fishy,

I am certainly no expert but would imagine that it's a combination of things. One, I have a feeling that the whitetails are a different sub-species here than in North Dakota. For example, in Manitoba they have two distinct sub-species, one type is found in the lower "agricultural" portion of the province. These deer generally have smaller bodies but larger racks. The northern deer, a different sub-species, that live more in the parkland/forest areas generally have bigger bodies but smaller racks.

Certainly food would have a large influence. We have a lot of areas with cereal crops that provide abundant nutrients to the deer ALL YEAR LONG. While you guys may grow some of the same stuff as we do, the soils are most certainly different. The soils of the Canadian Grain Belt are some of the most fertile on the planet(hence the high amount of agriculture on these lands).

Hunting pressure may also have an effect. There are a lot of places up here where deer live and die without seeing orange! When you provide deer with a lot of escape cover and the chance to mature, they obviously have a chance to reach their maximum size potential. And when Joe Hunter stumbles upon one of these brutes, the results can be incredible!

Lastly, a basic rule of Biology is that the further North you go(and thus the colder the climate becomes) the larger the animals become. This is due to the fact that with a lower surface area to volume ratio, the animal does not lose as much heat to the elemnts thus allowing it to survive the -40 degree celsius we are experiencing right now. Simply, the bigger animals survive the tough winters and the smaller ones don't, thus increasing the chance that future offspring will be bigger and over the years this produces a bigger whitetail.

I'm sure there's more to it but here's a few ideas for you to bat around!

[email protected]

Edited by - Canaduck on 01/29/2002 13:24:43

tschaef

I have to support Canadabucks last point, its easier to maintain an internal body temp if you have a big body. My only buck came from an area many miles from any agriculture, just swamp with some acorns, his rack scored <130" but he was way over 200' dressed.
No food plots or QDM, in fact very few deer, if you get one the rack may not be huge but it will fill your freezer.

Cyrus

Yep, in more extreme climates you have to be larger to survive. Survival of the fittest.

Lack of hunting pressure doesn't hurt either. In Manitoba, we only have about 30,000 deer hunters in a province the size of Texas. Granted the whole province doesn't have whitetails but that still makes for little hunting pressure compared to some of the states.

Canadahunter

NO NO NO NO NO!YOU GUY'S HAVE GOT IT ALL WRONG....IT'S THE BEER!!!THEY'RE BIGGER BECAUSE THEY DRINK CANUCK BEER!
SHHEEESH YOU GUY'S, STOP STEERING 'EM THE WRONG WAY.LMAO!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

Nicholal

And here Canadhunter I was going to say it is our glacier fresh water ice water.<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>known as kokanee

Canadahunter

Nicholal, oh bud you just brought back memories.I bought some Kok when I was in Ottawa over the holidays.
BREWED IN ONTARIO?What, do they truck the water down?
What a dissapointement.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

mrfishy34

thanks that helps some. but i wish that we had them factors up here. I was thinking about planting 1 acre of that plant stuff that is sapota have the right minnerals for a healthy buck and help grow biger antlers. have you heard on how the success of this is?

Tazman

Well I heard a rumor that they are big due to cross breeding with Canucks! LOL Hey, now hold on I can say that I am married to a Canadian.

The Tazman