I think there is a miss in understanding of deer and their genetics when it comes to the size of it's antlers. Genetics of the deer in the USA are good for the most part, it's the food first, that makes some a trophy, just like fish in a pond. It has been proven that the proper food can improve a deer 35% in just 3 yrs. It has been proven that a spike, when left to grow, may be the trophy buck in just 3 or 4 yrs. It's the farm belt where the deer are bigger, or South Texas where there is overabundance of Browse, their most desired primary food source. Second is age, left to grow older can make him a trophy, and then Genetics. So Food first, Age 2nd, Genetics 3rd that make trophy's. Does that sound familiar here @ the Pond Boss Forum. And another thing is that Does also pass genetics along. Another thing is if hunters don't thin out the deer population, Mother nature will.
Tracy
