What does all this mean for management? First, antler growth is highly variable and is 

 influenced by nutrition, age, and genetics. Second, the age of a deer influences the size of its 

 antlers but not the number of antler points. Third, any attempt to cull "inferior" bucks to 

 produce larger bucks in wild populations is likely to fail. 



RESULTS FROM HUNTER CHECK STATIONS: 



Hunter checking stations have been operated at several locations across the state, some for 

 many years. In addition to total harvest, number of hunters, and location of kill, 

 measurements of antlers, and ages of harvested deer have also been collected. 



Antler point versus age of mule deer bucks was compared from checking station information 

 collected in three regions (Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5). Mule deer 2.5 years and older from the 

 northwest region had a much higher incidence of 1-2 point antlers (fewer antler points) than 

 those in the southwest or northeast. Similarly, at 2.5 years, a lower percentage of deer from 

 the northwest had 3- and 4-point antlers. This supports the generalization that deer occupying 

 the coniferous forests of the northwest tend to grow slower. 



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