Mild Winter = Big Bucks???

I'm assuming the mild winter will lead to larger than expected deer populations next fall. Will it also lead to bigger antler growth than normal? Does anyone have any similar winters to compare?

Nozz, gastro intestinal parasites (worms). popple browse is a great natural de-wormer. i think it has to do with the acids in those little buds they nip off, browse.

WORMS? What kind of worms?

hunting northern wisconsin, i cant really say that weather affected the size or age of deer or better antler growth, but possibly the number of deer was increased by mild winters. ive have shot some of my best deer following a bad winter, i also have seen that if the acorn crop is heavy and has been for acouple of years(that is the key a heavy acorn crop a few years in a row)that the deer tend to group up tighter and hunting can be really good and large bucks will be hanging from the buck poles. another factor is logging, regrowth after logging is a deer magnet for winter/spring browse and is essential as certain types of browes act as a natural wormer for deer. a buck that has been infected by worms generally will not produce healthy antlers. in my experience its based on certain timely food sources that drives the numbers and quality of the northern deer herd.

Mild Winter = Lower Deer Mortality = Older Deer = Bigger Deer For the most part this is true.... I'm not saying it's only way it could turn out, but there is a chance.

just remember there was a high number of deer killed last year, so dont assume there will be more deer than usual

The milder the winter, the better chance a buck has to grow better antlers. During bad winters, the bucks don't waste as much energy growing antlers in spring until their bodies get enough nutrients to recover. The healthier and stronger bucks are coming out of winter tends to help them grow better antlers - but of course genetics plays a larger role.

Lack of snow could mean that less deer were killed be wolves this winter. While wolves can run on top of heavy snow and deer can't is where we loose a lot of older Bigger Bucks during normal winters. I agree that lack of precipitation this spring/summer could affect antler growth.The wet and very green spring a few years back resulted in excelent size antlers on Bucks in my area. I'm sure someone will post that these circumstanses do not have any affect on our Deer herd or Antler Growth, But Hey this is what I think.We can only hope

Not necessarily, I would hope the lack of precipitation we've had this winter doesn't continue into the spring and summer. I would think that a drought might negatively affect antler development.

Not sure about larger bucks, but there should be more , healther fawns born.