I am just East of Union Springs off 82

That sounds like genetics and not nutrition. In a normal situation, each year a bucks antlers should improve until they reach 7+ years old. If you know any of the adjoining landowners or hunters might be worth asking them what they know.

It's because nobody ever shoots the retard bucks. They live longer and breed more.

Well it’s not life or death situation I was just more curious to why. But I have also read on the genetics thing and some say yes and others say no but I agree more of the bucks get to walk because no one wants to use their tags on them bucks. I can’t thank all of you enough for your input as everyone seems to have very good ideas and not people being a smart ass. I really like this forum as I use to have property in GA but it went south so I found my way to AL and so far I’m loving it..

Mount-em

Wow I have to say he’s a very interesting buck for sure I think I’d have mouthed it also.. nice deer..

They literally mine sand on some of those properties……There’s a pretty large subset area right in there that got the chit end of how the whole ocean thing settled out once upon a time a million years ago…..You have poor, poor natural soil with most of the organic matter being burned off…..which in turn over time creates extremely sub-par soil conditions which pushes out fewer quality broadleaf browse species and a higher abundance of grass……..this in turn over time creates a lesser quality of deer

Yes makes sense to me as there is sandy areas around my camp but in others areas there is black soil this is my first season at my new place will get the soil’s tested and see what I have for growth a food plot for next season as I know it takes a lot of work to have deer wanting to live on the property just a new learning curve I recon.. will see what this month brings as I’m seeing a lot of scrapes and rubs all around see some of the young bucks scraping on camera so maybe I’ll be surprised as the rut gets closer.

Usually have 1 or 2 with wierd/unique racks every year. Had a double main beam 2 years ago

Would love to see that step out

Yes sir I also had one over in GA but could never get him in daylight he finally stopped showing up so I’m sure he was taken or hit by a vehicle.. was crazy looking and worthy of shooting for sure..

Paint rock, i would kill that one 100% of the time. Nice deer

Same with the one we are hunting

First thought is not enough food to maintain health during antler growth season, but that is not enough if there is not year round food. Could try a year round high protein supplement program mixed in corn or stand alone high protein supplement if the deer will eat it. May be a costly way to go keeping feeders full all times of the year, but got to keep those belly's full. Wooded non-agricultural land can only support so many deer, you may need to thin the herd to such a low number there are very few deer, if there is little food. Some land will support only a few deer per 500 acres for optimal health. Acorns are only good for a limited time and if the winter freeze takes out the greenery what are your deer going to eat? The best deer land is large agricultural tracts with limitless food year round and limited pressure. Deer move to the food, they are herbivore hogs, . Keep those belly's full year round and see what happens, crappy rack deer can turn into monsters, or so they claim.

Or just thin the herd

That's just the way it is on some properties, ours included. Unlimited food, not much pressure and no bucks over 125" in 3 decades

Craig at Phillips feed in union springs can help you with supplements, he has alot of knowledge about deer in that area!

Good morning,

Thank all of you for your great input I truly appreciate all the feedback..

I hunt near you. I have a lot of 1/2 racked deer. BUT I also have some really good deer.

We only shoot the 1/2 racked deer when they get big, BUT most don't make it that far for whatever reason. They die of natural causes or maybe I am supplying my neighbors with a lifetime of slaying 1/2 racked deer... which I don't guess really matters to me.

The reason we only shoot them is when they get some decent antlers on them they will become the dominate deer in the area. They effectively have a sword on the top of their head and a larger racked buck can't defend against that spike. That's not a scientific statement that's my observation from watching them over decades.

Otherwise we just leave them alone and let them do deer things. They aren't bothering anything IMO. They are probably breeding some does and all that... but I don't think any of that really matters. 1/2 the antler genetics comes from the doe. It don't see much impact in terms of seeing good racks. We still have good racked deer.

So - if all you are seeing is 1/2 racked deer someone shot the other deer with the better racks. That's what's going on. You have plenty of good racked deer in your area I can assure you. The key is going to be keeping them alive.