Posted: 10/12/2008 6:18:13 PM EDT
|
New photos from one of my game cameras show a 4 point with one side with 3 and the other with a single spike. It appears to be about a 1 to 2 year old buck. What is the potential for passing this trait on in its offspring? ie should I harvest this animal? Thanks in advance. |
|
Honestly, you don't know if it's a genetic defect or if he possibly damaged the other 2 points during velvet. I've seen deer that were injured during velvet and had similar racks...the one I harvested was a 5 on the left and a spike on the right...when I cut his antlers off, there was a puss pack at the base of the right side...the taxidermist I took it to to mount the plaque said he's seen it a bunch and the game biologist said that is sometimes the result of an injury during development for that year, and in subsequent years, things would be OK. He also confirmed meat was OK to eat. Shooting him now would surely make good sandwiches though. |
The answer to this question depends upon several things: 1) is your nutrition optimal? If not, then you have to let this buck age for another year or two to know the answer. Unless this buck had optimal feeding opportunity, i.e food plats, water and / or protein supplements, then it could be a nutritional setback, especially since most of TX is in a drought this year. 2) Is your buck:doe ratio 1:1? If not, you have to let the deer age for at least another year to know if this is a genetic defect. Most often, if the buck is only 1-2 years old, you will not be able to tell much about its potential, until at least another year. Unless you have met conditions 1 and 2, I'd let it go. |