Quote:
Originally Posted by MathGeek
A buck will gain a lot more weight between 0.5 and 1.5 than he will between 1.5 and 2.5. But he'll eat more between 1.5 and 2.5. A given amount of forage (carrying capacity) produces the most meat when the males are harvested at about 70% of their eventual adult weight, because gaining that last 30% of weight takes as much food (or more) as the first 70%. This is why most beef cattle are made into meat at 18-24 months old even though they would gain a bit more weight by waiting until they are 36 months old. It is not beneficial (cost wise) to keep feeding them to peak weight. The feed is more efficiently used by younger beef cattle.
Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a misnomer which really means Quality Antler Management. The meat is better and there can be more of it if most bucks are harvested at 1.5.
|
Please don't start deer hunting anywhere near Woodville,Ms. When hunters start using the same mentality on recreational property as they do in slaughter houses, hunting is down hill.