What’s good for deer might not be good for hunters ... and vice-versa.
QUESTION: We hunt on private property in the southeast corner of the Texas Panhandle. Last year we had record amounts of rain, and there was so much vegetation the deer did not come to the feeders very often. Now we are in an extreme drought but have been seeing more deer than the last seven years we hunted here. Did last year’s rain carry over to this year’s crop of deer?
Also, will the racks be smaller because off this year’s drought?
ANSWER: It’s difficult to say with certainty because there are many factors involved, but it seems logical that ample rain and vegetation could have a positive influence on productivity and recruitment.
Does and fawns have not only more food, but more cover to avoid predators. As for antlers, there is some research evidence suggesting a lag between moisture and antler growth where the effects may not show up in the drought year but will the following year. However, it also seems logical that lack of rain, and therefore food and nutrients, would have a direct and immediate effect.
— Recent Ask the Biologist Question: When Growth Kicks In: Antler characteristics can be determined by a number of factors, including genetics. Find Out The Answer!