3 X 3 and 4 X 4

[Stab]

I was told several years ago that a 3 X 3 mulie will never grow into a 4 X 4 and that they go from 2 X 2 to 4 X 4 the next year. (NOT counting brow tines) I seem to run into conflicting opinions on this every year at deer camp and at the Game & Parks Dept also. Does anyone have any documented evidence on this subject? If so please post. Thanks!

[swamp]

I would tend to agree that once a deer has reached maturity that the point count doesnt change... once a 5x5, 6x6 etc... it remains throughout life... genetic blue print... spread, mass and length may change but the basic antler configuration remains the same...

[stinky]

Well, I'll give you the Reader's Digest condensed version...here it is deer antler development is limited by both genetics and nutrition.

But, mostly genetics in their younger years as pen raised deer in zoos and etc that are fed alfalfa pellets will only get so big. Past ABOUT age five, they are limited by nutrition and old age. They will often decrease in the # of points that they have as they age.

They CAN go from a 2 pointer to a 4 pointer, but they can also start out as a 3 pointer.

At the Desert Museum in Carlsbad they have pen raised deer, their sheds and an exibit on antler growth, based on the sheds. My first two paragraphs are based on my visits there. I'm not sure what I'm basing my 3rd paragraph on. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/livingDesert.htm

[Stab]

I was told several years ago that a 3 X 3 mulie will never grow into a 4 X 4 and that they go from 2 X 2 to 4 X 4 the next year. (NOT counting brow tines) I seem to run into conflicting opinions on this every year at deer camp and at the Game & Parks Dept also. Does anyone have any documented evidence on this subject? If so please post. Thanks!

I would like to change ONE word in the previous post: they SHOULD go from 2x 2 to a 4 x 4. The reason this question is even being asked is the land owner that I hunt on states: "Shoot all the 3X3s you want but leave the 2X2 & 4X4s alone unless they are trophies" (and therefore mountable)

Resulting in this subject coming up every year!