At all, unless the animal is mature (5 yrs old or older).

This buck grew mass, length and tine # since last year.

Last year at 2 yrs old:



The next three pics are of him a few days ago at 3 yrs old. About the only thing he didn't add was width (might just barely make antler restrictions lol).

I wish I could have found his sheds from last year especially if I could find them this year.

Some fine genetics there, rancher

Awesome.

Is he native genetics?

no chance

If protein isn't making a difference until 4 or 5 yrs old why not keep your younger deer separate from the mature deer and not feed them protein?

He's probably 1/8 northern 6/8 south Texas and 1/8 hill country genetics. He's not a "red" deer.

Protein makes a difference. But in the early years age makes more of a difference, and that means you can't determine how much difference protein makes until he's mature.

I'm not a breeder. I can't separate young bucks from mature bucks. But your suggestion would make $ sense if I could.

Holy smokes! That guy is a mess, a beautiful mess.

Cool looking rack on him.

rancher, you know what you're talking about so please allow me a question.

I understand your belief that the true benefit (or lack thereof) from supplemental, free-choice feed cannot be fully assessed until after a deer is bodily mature. I agree with that 100%.

Would that same deer above have attained those levels of growth at 2 and 3 without supplemental, free-choice feed?

No I don't believe he would. He would have still had the multi point genetics, but probably fewer points and smaller over all. But comparative analysis of the effect of protein would still be impossible to know until he's maxed out developmentally.

About the only way you would be able to tell difference in protien effect would be a controlled study in pens over years on similar genetics.

So, I guess I should have qualified "you can't evaluate the effect of supplemental protein on pasture deer". A year over year study of average antler measurements in a pen with protien as the staple (not supplemental) would provide valid data on the effects of protien.

Wow - just wow! Must be something about living in Mountain Home, hanging out with you, that agrees with those bucks. Beautiful buck Rusty!

Well, he didn't stand a chance matching my beard, so he opted for his area of expertise

What a rack! His face looks sad in that second picture, Lol.

Is there any leeway when a deer is this close to 13" and has such a fine rack? If you were in a county with antler restrictions

Depends on the Warden but yes there is.

Great deer. That's why it's my belief it takes 10 years for protein to reach its full potential. 5 years for buck and doe on protein and then 5 years for fawn born of the pair to reach maturity

He's not that close to 13", I'd bet.

I use 14 inches between the ear tips, to judge, so I can see where he's real close. At three years old, I bet he's not on the shooting list, so it's an academic argument.

I think he's between 14/15. But I'm not in an ar area and yes, he's gonna get a 2 year pass.

Good deal, on most leases, he'd never see 4.