Southern Utah Antler Growth?

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 26, 2023

So is the antler growth as good as was expected down in hot Southern Utah?
I will head down that way mid-August.

Jacack · Jul 26, 2023

Wondering the same

AZ4life · Jul 26, 2023

All the pics and videos and feedback I’ve been privy to are showing deer are quite a bit behind where they normally would be in the growth cycle at this point. Still alot of growing to be done still and alot of mature bucks just look like it’s more like June 26th instead of July 26th, consensus is because of the fall/winter/spring weather we have had. Does that mean they will still be growing later and rub later??.. tbd

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 27, 2023

Man, they better keep growing later than usual or that will really suck!

Even behind in Southern Utah huh?

On wet years like this those dry areas grow big bucks from what I hear anyway.

I hope they reach their potential!

Muleman1 · Jul 27, 2023

Behind for sure

southernutahhunter · Jul 27, 2023

I thought the southern units deer herds did great through the winter?

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 27, 2023

southernutahhunter said:
I thought the southern units deer herds did great through the winter?

Are you saying this from what you have observed or asking a question?

southernutahhunter · Jul 27, 2023

Just seems strange they would be behind in the southern units if it is true they had a great winter. I have no observations yet.

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 27, 2023

southernutahhunter said:
Just seems strange they would be behind in the southern units if it is true they had a great winter. I have no observations yet.

Agree, I just talked to a biologist and he said it seems about normal. The problem is unless you know specific bucks and watch them from year to year you probably don't have a great idea of what the winter did for them.

littlebighorn · Jul 27, 2023

I once saw a buck on the 4th of July that only had baseball bats growing out of his head. By the 24th he had branched but still not developed much, but by the opening of Archery season in August he blew up to one of the biggest typicals I have ever seen.
That same year we saw a buck that looked fully finished in July and by August he had changed very little.
That suggests to me that some grow early and some grow late.

JakeH · Jul 28, 2023

littlebighorn said:
I once saw a buck on the 4th of July that only had baseball bats growing out of his head. By the 24th he had branched but still not developed much, but by the opening of Archery season in August he blew up to one of the biggest typicals I have ever seen.
That same year we saw a buck that looked fully finished in July and by August he had changed very little.
That suggests to me that some grow early and some grow late.

I've always attributed it to when they dropped there antlers, and have also seen bucks finished at the end of July and some blow up the first 2 weeks of August.

pounder · Jul 29, 2023

Looking good so far just need to finish strong on the most part of the deer down south

schoolhousegrizz · Jul 29, 2023

pounder said:
Looking good so far just need to finish strong on the most part of the deer down south

View attachment 116245

Heck yeah that's what we like to see. General or LE, if you don't mind me asking.

pounder · Jul 29, 2023

Just some more as well

GunCarver · Jul 29, 2023

Sorry guys. There are no deer down here in Southern Utah. They all died. I guess you'll just have to stay away from here now that you know that. Really unfortunate. Darn!