The above, what Abolt and others are saying supports what I have been saying for a long time about high grading vs. low grading. When I have suggested in the past that people learn how to low grade their crappiest inferior antlered bucks and not shoot any good antlered buck until it is at least 4 (5 is better obviously) I have been met with the "you can't change the antler genetics of a free range deer herd" argument. But right here we have a wildlife biologist confirming that low grading can be done and that doing so along with not high grading 2 - 3 year old bucks would significantly increase the quality of the buck herd in terms of antlers.

The problem in Alabama is that the best 2 and 3 year old bucks in terms of antlers get killed each year - which is high grading. Which removes the best antler genetics from the deer herd.

I will say it again: people should learn how to low grade cull bucks and not shoot any other buck before age 4 (5 is better of course)( but I will never criticize anyone for shooting a 4 year old buck).

Also and of course, you have to let young hunters, new hunters, etc. get their first buck kills under their belt regardless of what age or size antlers the buck has.

This

This

I know a processor and taxidermist that will process over 2,000 deer a year, and shoulder mount less than 200. Of the 200 maybe 30% are over 120” in a normal year. This year he only took in about 120 heads but it’s the largest percentage of 125-150” deer I think I’ve ever seen. It’s far higher than past seasons.

There are those that will tell ya long as we don't kill too many , you could hunt them year round.

And we get to rifle hunt the entire rut and don’t get me wrong I enjoy it. With the long season any buck with any age is ALMOST impossible to kill outside of the rut. Most of the big buck states bow hunt the rut.

Yessir and they can blow that smoke up someone else’s ass

You could shoot those crappy bucks at 3-4 and would definitely let the good bucks get older and bigger (if you let them walk) and have more available food. It will not however change the genetics.

Genetics in everything is always changing and "evolving" and becoming different all of the time.
Animal husbandry and plant crossbreeding has been changing animal and plant genetics for millennia.

Low grade = less crappy genetics.
High grade = more crappy genetics.

And as a practical matter low grading would weed out bucks that will never hit 120+ inches and make room for ones that will.

Genetics in everything is always changing and "evolving" and becoming different all of the time.
Animal husbandry and plant crossbreeding has been changing animal and plant genetics for millennia.

Low grade = less crappy genetics.
High grade = more crappy genetics.

And as a practical matter low grading would weed out bucks that will never hit 120+ inches and make room for ones that will.

I’d vote for it Walker. I’ll leave you in charge of making it happen

Food for thought: The AU 400+ acre experiment station in Tallapoosa county contains only ORIGINAL Alabama genetic stock from west Alabama. In other words, whatever was in the area inside the erected high-fence is what they got; no improved stock, genetics, A.I., etc. The largest deer ever measured inside that enclosure up until 2019 was 155"+/-. That's with free-choice high protein pellets year-round, predator control, and population control of the fawns. I do not have 2020 information on recent highest scores. All of these deer in that specific area of Chambers and Tallapoosa counties were stocked in the early 1960's from Sumter and Marengo counties. The Sumter deer release was just to the east of there and the Marengo county deer were released just to the west. With all that said, near perfect conditions hit "only" 155", AND most of the other bucks I have seen in that enclosure along with shed antlers have not hit 130". That's MOST! I have seen some nice ones for certain and some jaw-drop sheds. However, again, it takes a lot to make a 130" deer in Alabama, and most just don't have the INDIVIDUAL GENETICS to hit that number. Overall genetics are here, just like in a 7-foot basketball player is "in" our overall genetics in the U.S., but quite the rarity. Now, how many guys even hit 6' 4"??? That's your 130-class equivalent. A measuring tape was mentioned on a previous post. The practice of measuring yours and others' racks will help in judging and appreciating what it really takes to make 130". Check youtube on how to accurately measure a whitetail on the Boone & Crockett system, if you don't know how. Gross score, I believe, is what we would all consider inside this discussion, I assume. Again, best discussion I've seen on Aldeer in quite a while. Thanks!

One more thing. The study of Alabama's whitetail restocking is a fascinating one. It really goes hand-in-hand with this discussion.

Hav we had any pics on the aldeer kill thread that measured 140 and above this year from Alabama? I don’t remember any - but my memory is bad. I hav never gotten a 140 on camera in my life - if one of my 10s survived - he likely 130s or so - high 120 last year. But I don’t hav him on camera and for all I know he dead

I guess my point - 115 to 135 inch deer is a heck of a deer in Bama - bigger are killed but extremely not common. Think one taxadermist on this very thread said he had done something like 220 deer and like 15 of them busted 130s - extremely small % and that sounds about right

When I was in N FL - just an example - not a brag point - it lines up perfectly w what I am saying - I killed a 128 on that club - that was the second largest buck in that clubs 22 year history and it was a big and good club - my buddy killed one that same year to beat my deer or it would hav been number one

All I am saying - where I hunt in Bama - 130 and above is not very common and if I let my deer live as long as they could and put out protein every day - don’t think they make 160 where I at - I ain’t in Kansas - now 150 common in Ks not here

Location, location, location, even in Alabama.