Opener is coming!

[glenn57]

in my estimation......the nubbin"s all were this years fawns. larger ones maybe better genetics????? to me all sophmore bucks are spikes. or maybe a wee bit more antlers.

[HD]

Most likely, the "bigger" button bucks were early fawns procreated regular rut, and the smaller ones were procreated during the late season rut.

There has always been a later rut during December. I'm not sure why, but the DNR biologist say that it occurs due to later born does going into heat later in the season.

[Steve-o]

Yeah, I couldn't find anything to support the case for a 1.5 year-old nubbin, but I was really surprised just how much of a difference that extra month makes. 

It also explains why you sometimes find "wet" does during the November rut.  Perhaps not all does have weened their "late" young from the spring. 

Which begs the next question...  Do wet does go into heat with the rest of the herd in early November, or perhaps are these the deer that don't breed again until a month later?

[glenn57]

Yeah, I couldn't find anything to support the case for a 1.5 year-old nubbin, but I was really surprised just how much of a difference that extra month makes. 

It also explains why you sometimes find "wet" does during the November rut.  Perhaps not all does have weened their "late" young from the spring. 

Which begs the next question...  Do wet does go into heat with the rest of the herd in early November, or perhaps are these the deer that don't breed again until a month later?

:scratch:you sure seem awefully interested in a deer's sex life all of a sudden??

[deadeye]

Steve-o, glenn57 is right about the nubbins being this year's fawns. Around late October and early November, it's not unusual to see a big difference in it fawn sizes. The main factors that result in "small" fawns is from (1) mother was a fawn when bred. (2) mother was bred a month later than most does. (3) doe fawns are normally smaller.  The main factor for seeing a "big" fawn is being bred in early November, single fawn and mother is a big mature doe. 
I would disagree with glenn57 about all sophomore bucks are spikes. Location of course, could be a factor here as I can only speak about observations on my property. A few of 1.5-year-old bucks may have spikes (probably the previous years "small" fawn) however, the rest are split between nice forks, six and 8 pointers. These 6 and 8's are thin antlers that do not go past the ears. 
 

[glenn57]

I don't disagree with you deadeye .  I didn't go further in my explanation regarding the spikes, just from what i see up in the big woods of  northern  Mn.  There my be some sophomore bucks up there with more then spikes, but there aren't many I bet.

Them deer up there don't have food plots etc to feed at, so there diet is way different then the bottom 2/3rd of the state.

[Steve-o]

Thanks guys.