re: Deer rut in Louisiana 2014

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In more southern latitudes where deer have longer breeding seasons, the average birth date of forked-antlered yearlings was about one month earlier than spike antlered yearlings. And while the differences in birth days is unlikely to affect the eventual size of a buck's antlers, those bucks born in later months have antlers that can take a year or two longer to hit their growth spurt.

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3. Early or late birth does not affect antler development if deer receive
adequate nutrition. The time of birth of a deer does not change its genetic
potential. A deer with spike antlers could be born in May while a 6-point
yearling may be born in July. In south Texas, where the largest bucks in the
state are found, the average fawning date for deer is July, a month later than
the birth date for Hill Country deer. Fawns born very late in the season
(August or September) may very well become nutritionally deprived because
their greatest energy need occurs during a poor forage production time, late
summer and early fall. Energy intake is diverted to maintaining and growing
body tissues first when nutrition is low. There will be little excess energy
available for antler growth.

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One final factor that can affect antler development is birth date. A buck that is born earlier in the fawning season is generally larger, healthier, and able to produce a better rack earlier in its life. Bucks that are born later than October and November may not catch up with their counterparts for two to three growing seasons. Late born fawns are a product of an unbalanced sex ratio and occur when the doe to buck ratio is too high. The unbalanced sex ration can only be addressed through the harvest of does to maintain a more balanced ratio.

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