How to Supplement Antler Growth with Food Plots
- Planting. Planting anything is expensive and time-consuming. ...
- Supplementing Protein. For those who don’t have the time, means, or wherewithal to farm, consider distributing protein pellets.
- Minerals. ...
- Fertilizing. ...
What do deer need to grow good antlers?
Will Great Nutrition Guarantee Trophy Bucks?
- Factors in deer antler growth. General health greatly influences a variety of factors that affect deer antler growth, such as feed intake and hormone production.
- Deer habitat and antler growth. Environmental conditions are also a factor. ...
- Hydration maximizes feed intake in deer. ...
- The genetic footprint. ...
- Population density relative to antler growth. ...
What is the best whitetail deer food?
Picking the Best Food Plot for Deer in Fall and Winter
- Planning Food Plots. Research indicates that 1/2 acre is the average size of a whitetail food plot. ...
- Types of Forage. The main categories of plants that most whitetail hunters plant are cereal grains, brassicas and legumes.
- Choosing the Right Seeds. ...
- Foliar Fertilizing. ...
- Fall Plots. ...
- Winter Plots. ...
- Contact Information
What is the best food plot for deer?
Whitetail Institute Fusion Deer Food Plot Seed for Spring or Fall Planting
- Includes the newest proprietary clovers scientifically designed by the Whitetail Institute specifically for food plots for deer.
- Includes WINA perennial forage chicory for maximum attraction, high protein levels, longevity, and variety.
- Provides up to 44% antler-building protein
- Coated with RainBondTM for enhanced seedling survivability
What is the best acorns for deer?
Red Oak Group: Acorn Profile
- Northern Red Oak. This oak species produces one of the largest acorns but — like all acorns in the red oak group — it’s high in tannic acid.
- Water Oak. These acorns are approximately a ½” in length with alternating bands of brown and black. ...
- Pin Oak
- Black Oak. ...
What is the best thing to feed deer for antler growth?
Calcium and phosphorous are the two most common minerals found in hardened antlers, and so it makes sense that they are the best deer minerals for antler growth.
How do you increase deer antler growth?
Providing bucks with high levels of calcium and phosphorous can jumpstart antler growth. These minerals are beneficial for pregnant does, and aid in milk production, metabolism and bone growth. They're also key to fawn and yearling skeletal development.
What foods grow big antlers whitetails?
By planting any of the three mentioned – clover, alfalfa, chicory – deer on your hunting property will have another food source option in addition to native sources. Spring food plots are a good way to get bucks on the pathway to growing bigger antlers for fall.
Do minerals help deer antlers grow?
Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Because of the large quantities of minerals required for antler growth, whitetails have developed the ability to “bank” calcium and phosphorus in their skeletons and then transfer these minerals during antler growth.
What is the best protein for deer?
The Top 5 Proteins Proven To Grow Big Bucks In The Off SeasonTecomate. ... Double Down Deer Feed. ... Lyssy & Eckel Feeds. ... Sportsman's Choice and Record Rack. ... Purina AntlerMax Deer 20.
Does corn help antler growth?
With only six- to eight- percent protein (the “building block” of antlers), corn can barely support daily bodily activities for an adult deer, which does not provide antler growth. So corn does play a factor, but not much.
Do soybeans help antler growth?
Bucks bank nutrients and pull them out in summer to develop antlers up until mid to late September. Even in a top soybean state, you can't depend on grain soybeans," Doyle says. "They're cut in September or October, and once harvested, the premium protein source for antler growth is gone."
How do I add calcium to my deer feed?
Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots.
How do deer get enough calcium to grow antlers?
Deer antlers take a lot of energy to grow. The antlers are bony, and like bones are made mostly out of calcium. Deer do not consume much calcium with their vegetarian diet, and the calcium in the antlers is grown just like the calcium in the bones, produced by chemical reactions in their bodies.
Does salt help deer antlers grow?
While the salt alone isn't going to grow bigger antlers, it is the attractant that draws deer in while you mix other minerals in that they need.
How do you feed deer calcium phosphorus?
You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site.
What's the best mineral for deer?
Calcium and Phosphorus are the two most prevalent minerals in antlers, so it makes sense that these two minerals should be included in any supplement you provide. The next most important item is salt. This is mostly because salt is the major attractor for deer.
How to increase antler size on buck?
Antler size can be improved on bucks through adding points, increasing the lengths of points or by increasing the circumference of existing antler material, thus increasing mass. A lot of hunters look for a buck with a wide-spreading rack, but I’ll take the heavy-horned freak nasty every time.
What are the objectives of a deer diet?
The objectives should be to provide more protein, minerals (phosphorus and calcium) and trace minerals for all deer . Here are few ways to get the job done: Food plots – Get a soil test for your plot area and fertilize and lime as necessary. Leached soils are low on minerals and other nutrients.
What is the most heritable trait of a deer?
Antler mass, as it turns out, is one of the most heritable traits in deer antlers. Of all the traits that a buck may get from his father for antler growth, mass is most likely to stick. So, the WYSIWYG principle applies here. Thin-horned bucks sire more thin-horned bucks.
Why is it important to manage whitetail deer?
There are numerous other positives that result from managed whitetail populations, the most important of which are healthier, more diverse plant communities for all wildlife species.
When should I shoot bigger bucks?
Ideally, hunters will shoot bigger bucks if they simply provide the genetically-best bucks on their property with optimal nutrition until they reach 5-8 years of age. As I mentioned, this would be ideal. The reality in this case is a 90 acre property that currently has bucks that are lacking antler mass.
Do buck antlers get bigger?
Antlers get larger as a buck gets older up to a certain point, then they start declining in size. There is some debate on when exactly that occurs, but I don’t think there is a single right answer here. Just as individual bucks vary in antler quality, I think different bucks peak at different years.
Do deer have antlers?
Research in livestock have found that minerals improve digestion, increase weight gains. Heavier deer tend to have heavier antlers. Fertilize – This practice is not limited to just food plots. Native browse species also benefit from nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
From fascination to education
Fast forwarding 30 years, that pursuit of knowledge has le me down many different paths, one being the Wildlife Biology program at Texas Tech University.
Minerals 101
Minerals, in a deer’s diet, are extremely important to overall health and productivity. First, you should understand there are multiple mineral requirements, some more imperative than others, depending on the situation.
Which Deer Minerals To Buy
It’s overwhelming how many mineral mixes are available these days, all claiming astonishing success or promising massive jumps in antler growth. So, how is someone supposed to decide on the right mineral and know they aren’t wasting their money?
Getting Your Mineral Sites Started
Where: Normally, having a site every 25-75 acres is key. But, you need to consider your property and the density of your deer herd, first. So, to start out, make it simple, start your sites close to where you know the deer are.
In Conclusion
Before concluding, I want to get you thinking about something I’ll talk more about in upcoming blogs. For starters, shifting your attention more toward your does and fawns.
Brandon Houston
Brandon Houston is President of H3 Whitetail Solutions. He is a graduate of the Texas Tech University Wildlife Biology program. Brandon has immersed himself in wildlife programs, organization, studies and research. Brandon loves to study and chase big, mature bucks in the Fall.
What is the mineral content of antlers?
The mineral content is also as high as 300% higher in perennials vs spring grains. What it takes to grow large antler is a lot of protein and higher amounts of calcium and phosphorous. Antlers are made up of 45% crude protein, 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous.
How many days a year do deer need to eat?
Deer need 365 days a year of nutrition. When a deer goes into the winter in good condition and doesn’t lose much weight during the winter, they don’t go through a period of compensatory gain. What that means is they immediately start using their nutrient intakes for body weight and horn growth.
Can worms cause lung problems in deer?
Most don’t know this but in areas of high deer densities there can be major lung worm issues. Lung worms some miss interpret as a deer coughing and possibly a respiratory issue, when in fact it can be an internal parasite issue. Deer with a high worm load will not put on the pounds nor will produce as many inches of antler.
What minerals are used to grow deer antlers?
So what minerals are actually used by bucks when growing their antlers? Minerals are categorized as macro- (minerals found in larger quantities in a deer’s body) or micro- (minerals found in lesser quantities in a deer’s body). Unfortunately, deer research describing which macro and microminerals are most used by bucks during antler growth is ...
What are the two macro minerals that deer need?
Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorous (P) are two macrominerals that are major components in a deer’s skeletal system. For example, 98% of Ca and 80% of P are found within a deer’s bones. Although this is an overwhelming majority, there is still enough Ca and P found in antlers to lead Scientists to do research on whether Ca and P are limiting antler growth. Daily requirements of Ca and P can increase four-fold during antler growth, so it would be logical to assume these macrominerals might be limiting in a deer’s diet. Generally speaking, Ca requirements for free-ranging deer herds can be met by deer simply consuming natural forage and although P may be deficient in some areas, deer tend to be able to meet their P requirements by consuming natural forage as well. Even if deficiencies do occur, deer will switch their diet to consume bones, shed antlers, or even snail or slug shells to meet their requirements. This means that when available through supplementation, deer will go out of their way to find the mineral they need. If switching their diet doesn’t help, then deer will reabsorb Ca and P found within their bones to meet their daily requirements, which is not ideal over offering supplemental minerals.
Why do deer need supplemental minerals?
Although most hunters probably use supplemental minerals for several reasons, one of the main reasons is promoting increased herd health, and specifically, to increase antler size. So what minerals are actually used by bucks when growing their antlers?
Do deer need micro minerals?
Unlike macrominerals, there are no established requirements of microminerals for white-tailed deer, though there are some that appear to be important. Most estimates of microminerals comes from what we know about requirements needed by livestock, but using those requirements for deer can be dangerous because livestock haven’t been bred for efficient mineral use as humans provide them with whatever minerals they need. This may lead to overestimates of microminerals for deer. Regardless, one study conducted on red deer (think of the European version of the North American Elk), showed that copper supplementation helped to increase antler mass for adults. Although other studies have failed to show that relationship between copper and antler mass, they have reported that both copper and zinc can improve a deer’s immune system. Offering minerals with trace amounts of these micronutrients will most likely lead to better overall herd health.
Can you feed deer GYT90?
You can provide deer these minerals and supplemented nutrition a variety of ways. The first and most beneficial is to pour the GYT90 crude soybean oil and mineral mix ture over supplemental feed. This can help attract deer to feed stations during these stressful periods. This can be beneficial for several reasons.
When do deer need more water?
Deer tend to have increased Na requirements during spring and summer when the water content in plants is greatest. This increased water content makes it difficult for a deer to maintain a balance between Na and water within its body.
Does zinc help deer?
Although other studies have failed to show that relationship between copper and antler mass, they have reported that both copper and zinc can improve a deer’s immune system. Offering minerals with trace amounts of these micronutrients will most likely lead to better overall herd health.
What to plant in the spring to help antlers grow?
How to Supplement Antler Growth with Food Plots. Food plots can pay off in the long run. Legumes, clover, soybeans, lablab, and buckwheat are ideal to plant in the spring. I’ll admit the title of this article may be slightly misleading. That’s because, according to several key studies, biologists don’t definitively know if humans can cause ...
What are the minerals in antlers?
Once hardened, analysis reveals the antler is half protein and half minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus and trace amounts of about nine others. So it’s reasonable that providing protein and minerals could enhance antler growth.
What crops do deer eat in spring?
Set up side-by-side test plots and judge for yourself. In addition to clover, crops like soybeans, lablab, and buckwheat are fantastic spring forages for deer. Deer love soybeans in fall, but they relish the green forbs that are high in protein during spring.
What to plant in spring for deer?
One of the very best things you can do for deer is to plant legumes (think beans, peas, and clovers) in the spring. Clover is tops because this palatable, easy-to-plant perennial offers 25 percent protein.
When to distribute pellets to buck?
Rather, distribute it in January, February, or March when rut-ravaged bucks need it most. Then keep it out all spring—or as long as you can—to help does, fawns, and young bucks grow strong.
When is the best time to grow buck antlers?
Spring is the most important time in a buck’s antler growth cycle, so if you plan to sway nature, now is the time to do it. Read The Next Article: Making a Good Thing Even Better: Simple Steps to Increase Outdoors Access.
Do deer eat protein?
Biologists believe whitetails thrive on a diet of 16 percent protein, and most native browse diets provide only half of that. So most deer will readily eat protein supplements.
What is the second generation of deer?
The second generation is composed of deer that were born to mothers that were raised in our research pens on the optimal, high-quality diet. That is, they are offspring of the first generation deer (remember, the first generation deer were all raised on the same high-quality diet, but their mothers were from the wild).
Why are deer so similar to humans?
The latest research at the MSU Deer Lab has revealed that deer are very similar to humans because they are affected by a phenomenon called “epigenetics.”. In this article we are going to review a 10-year research project where we examined the relative influence of genetics and nutrition on deer body and antler size.
Why are buck results empowering?
These results are empowering because they show a clear link between buck quality and nutrition, which is something you can improve on your property. Habitat management and supplemental nutrition will yield results. Big changes will take time. Remember that significant changes will occur on a generational timescale.
Can genetics control antler growth?
Stop worrying about genetics! Although genetics do control body and antler growth of individuals, they cannot be managed at the population scale (we will save this topic for another Gamekeeper’s article).
Did the 1960s have deer?
Prior to the 1960s, much of the southeastern US was devoid of deer. It’s hard to imagine nowadays, but state wildlife agencies spent decades stocking deer throughout their respective states. For example, in Mississippi, MDWFP released over 3,000 deer in hopes of reestablishing populations – and it worked!
Do whitetail deer eat antlers?
So it’s no surprise that deer are what they eat too.