Area vs deer size

[ozark]

The ten point rack held by my nephew (smaller) was taken here in North Central Arkansas during recent ML season. The other one was taken in Central Illinois last week with a shotgun slug. Deer come in a lot of sizes. So maybe heavier bullets are needed in some place. Ben

[jims]

That front deer is alot of deer.

[SW]

jims said:

That front deer is alot of deer.

I don't think so - just looks like a big head and very small body , maybe non-existant. That is a great NC AR deer.

[tar12]

Qzark,we were in W.Virginia a couple years back in camp on top of a mountain there hunting with friends.We were shooting the breeze at lunch time when one of the local guys that was hunting with us came screaming into camp saying I got a big buck!!!Not knowing any better at the time,I thought he had indeed whacked a big one!He borrowed a 4 wheeler and off he went tearing down that mountain side.Upon hearing the 4 wheeler coming back,I walked to the edge of camp to see what he had.At first I saw nothing and thought he had lost the deer in his excitement.But no, he had it,all 85-90 lbs of it.I guess for that area it was a big deer.It was a 8 point,but very small compared to mid-west deer.Acorns are not much of a living for mountain deer.

[DBinNY]

Ozark, If you took an ecology course you would learn about Bergmann's Rule which generally states that animals living in colder climates are larger and stockier (less surface area per volume) so they can conserve body heat and survive the winters. See the link if you want the actual definition:

www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/797.html

The racks in your picture probably also came from 2 different aged deer. If those racks came from the southern zone of NY, the back one would probably be 2 1/2 and the front one would be at least 3 1/2 and more likely 4 1/2 or older.

[getonit]

Shucks- lookin' closer that deer must have been on some steriods- it seems to have horns coming out of its body too ;D....that Northrup King seed in the pickup must do wonders... kidding aside location and food do play a huge role in deer size- I have family in Florida and a big deer there looks like a yearling here in Ohio...... Rick

[tomcat]

the front deer does appear to have the "hourglass" shaped nose of an older deer. then again, what do I know? here in Tn we only see deer like that in pictures. briar munchers don't get that big, but they're much easier to drag / carry. since I mostly hunt here, think I'll see if I can my MLII to shoot a BB.

[jims]

SW: I think you are correct. When I was stationed in Texas in pretty dry country the bodies of the deer were pretty small.

[ozark]

getonit, There was also a big 8 point in the trailer bed.

DBinNY, True but there are exceptions. Texas has some of the larger deer, raccoon and other animals which seems to dispute the usual. One deer I heard about in South Texas had a track that weighed 22 pounds.

[DBinNY]

Ozark, those "large" Texas deer are old deer and wouldn't hold a candle to a deer of equal age in Saskatchewan (or NY for that matter) as far as body size goes. I'm not up on the size distribution of raccoons in Texas but I'd guess that they are generally somewhat smaller and have longer legs than their northern cousins to help dissipate body head rather than conserve it.

[billc]

Qzark,
Request permission to use track weight for future campfire discussions.
Bill