On one of the properties I hunt, buck age structure has improved greatly the past couple years. However, I’m now seeing a lot more broken and busted up racks in the older deer and this year started seeing more SOOS type deer, where they were previously very rare. These are most likely due to pedicle injuries. Most of the mature deer I’m now getting on camera have broken beams or broken tines.

Is it a reasonable assumption that the older age structure is causing more aggressive fighting, which in turn causes increased pedicle injuries?

Yep. It’s an undesired outcome of increasing age structures and sex ratios. More competition leads to more injury.

Need more does so they dont have to kill each other fighting over them

Thanks for the replies.

CNC, it’s been at least 4 years since a doe has been killed here. There is a strong population of does.
The only noticeable variable is increased average age of bucks (and maybe an uptick in overall buck numbers).

It happens with bucks of any age pass them and shoot the genes you don't want. 6pt, no brows spike on one side ect, make sure they are at least 4yo+

That solved itself around here. Most breeding happens during turkey season after all the older bucks have shed.

I had walk by me last Sunday that looked like all his points were knocked off. Just main beams left.

My belief, as you approach a closer ratio in sex structuring, buck to doe, your breeding competition accelerates and then with that comes more fighting and subsequently antler injury. However there is a point where you cross over into actually less fighting if there are few enough does and enough older age class bucks to breed them where the younger bucks do not compete/fight for breeding. Additionally most pedicle injuries occur secondary to prolonged rutting into February/March and continued fighting during the two week period when a buck is actively shedding his antlers thereby making his antlers less stable.

I too, have seen the same WillyB. It eventually gets better with the mature buck classes doing the breeding while the younger age classes stay in the shadows.

Good conversation guys. Thanks for the input.

Really skewed sex ratios tend to draw out the breeding season, putting more stress on bucks, and providing a longer window for injury to occur. I know CNC is wetting his drawers to hear that, but even with higher adult buck percentages in the population breeding, if they have to do that through 2-3 estrous cycles it’s increasing opportunity for injury.

Do the younger bucks actually stay in the shadows, or do they travel to other properties until they find somewhere they can compete?

Some of both, but it’s not uncommon for me to observe one mature buck on a doe with 2-4 immature bucks just standing around for any opportunity if he leaves her.

The only drawers that are wet are your panties from this dream you’re having about creating perfect ratios on a 1000 acres……Meanwhile, in the other thread bucks are still traveling for miles during the rut.

Glad we can have fun CNC.

Those traveling bucks going to travel regardless.

I just hate that you’re still promoting wholesale doe slaughtering when you recognize that the problem is corn and cameras causing too many bucks to be shot. If you try to solve that problem by killing does then what you end up with is just less deer.

I’ve never once promoted wholesale doe slaughtering. I very much promote balancing a ratio heavily skewed in favor of females. You will never accomplish that by passing on bucks alone. The amount of doe harvests will vary but selective doe harvest will always be a major contributor to overall heard health and balance. That’s just the truth. Leaving 5-6 does to breed for every buck creates a never ending cycle of lower birth rates, less recruitment and poor recovery post rut.

Glad we can have fun Matt......