Deer Antlers

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Deer Antlers
Edited by Ullrich Original by Jerry
Taylor Based on Presentation by John
Seginak Modified by Georgia Agriculture
Education Curriculum Office September 2005
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Why is it necessary to keep records of antler
size and development anyway?

• Antler size often reflects the nutritional
  conditions and genetics of a given area.
• Large antlers are often indicative of good
  habitat conditions for the entire herd.

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• The last place an ungulate puts nutrients is into
  antler development.
• Everything goes into body growth, body
  maintenance, and body condition.
• If the rack is large, the body condition should
  be excellent.

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3 Factors That Affect Antler Size And Development!

• Age
• Nutrition
• Genetics

THE MOST IMPORTANT IS NUTRITION!!
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3 Factors That Affect Antler Size And Development!

• 1. Age
• 1 impact in Texas
• Deer antlers get larger and have more points each
  year until 7 or 8.
• After 8 years they tend to have shorter points,
  but mass continues to increase.

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3 Factors That Affect Antler Size And Development!

• 2. Nutrition. Excellent Quality Forage.
• Habitat conditions are reflective in antler size
  and bigger antlers.
• 1 ½ yr. Old buck in very good habitat have been
  recorded with 8 or more points.
• Animals in poor habitat may have only spike
  antlers at 2 ½ years.

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3 Factors That Affect Antler Size And Development!

• 3. Genetics
• Antlers have heritable characteristics just like
  people, some parts are big, some are small.

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Antler Development

• Another influence on antler size is Bergunianus
  rule that states that homoeothermic animals such
  as bucks and mammals in cold regions tend to be
  larger in size leave a lower ratio of body
  surface to body weight than related animals in
  warmer climates.

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Groups That Record And Log Antler Measurements!

• Boone Crockett, Pope Young, Longhunters
  Society, BuckMasters, Buchetts, Safari club,
  North American Shed Antlers Association and more.

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Groups That Record And Log Antler Measurements!

• The Big three are Longhunters Society, Pope
  Young, and Boone Crockett.
• Today the 3 are just about identical and we will
  deal with Boone Crockett measurements.

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Longhunters Society

• They only record muzzleloaders harvest.

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Pope Young

• They record only the bow harvest.

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Boone Crockett

• World Records with a bow, gun, or any other legal
  weapon used within the confines of the law.

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Boone Crockett History!

• The club was established in 1887 by President
  Theodore Roosevelt.
• The current scoring system was adopted in 1950.
• The records committee meets once a year, and BC
  sponsors an awards program every 3 years.

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Boone Crockett History!

• BC puts great emphasis on symmetry.
• White Tailed Deer can be scored as either typical
  (170) or non typical (195)

Macon Co. Typical Buck!
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Boone Crockett History!

• There is a 60 day drying period after the animal
  is harvested, as everything that is going to
  shrink has done so in this length of time.

Non Typical!
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Boone Crockett History!

• You have to take a week long course to be an
  official scorer.
• BC scores around 28 North American Species, from
  bear to moose.

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Scoring A Rack (BC)!

• 4 main measurements.
• 1. Inside spread, at widest place.
• 2. Lengths of points, measure from where it
  meets to tips on the outside of curves.

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Scoring A Rack (BC)!

• 3. Length of main beams. (From the base to tip,
  along the midline.
• 4. Circumference measurement (Mass). Count 4 on
  each side, regardless of how many points.

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Scoring A Rack (BC)!

• Score to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.
• Must be at least 1 inch to count it as a
  scoreable point.
• There are deductions for non symmetry. Typical
  Non Typical are different.

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Now lets score!!