BenA
5 year old buck +
I got my hands on the publication, but I can't share it in whole on the internet due to it being in the current for sale edition of the Journal of Wildlife Management. But, I can look through and answer questions or give quotes as to some of the facts or parameters found in the publication.
They used the soil productivity index for a wide-scale metric. The link is on this page at the USDA site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-tec...orting/soil-drainage-and-productivity-indexes
For the fine-scale metric they collected a minimum of 10 soil samples at the plants from 0 to 25cm at the base of each sampled plant.
They sampled the same 40 plant species (that were commonly selected by deer based on several previously published findings by different studies) where available (in the same genus if not, such as Rubus and Smilax) The 4 plant groups were forbs, semi-woody, shrubs, and trees. They collected tissue samples from young as well as older growth from the plant. They sampled N, P, K, and Ca because those have been shown to be the main growth limiting nutrients. The also recorded crude protein levels. They sampled in June and July across 4 years at the sites based on research showing that is the time of the year that is the most nutritionally demanding for gestation, lactation, and antler growth.
Only forbs and young semi-woody plant tissue contained the 16% CP level necessary for maximum antler growth.
If anyone has specific questions about the publication, I can post back.
Also, to note, this was published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, not just any old scientific study. This journal has the highest standards in the wildlife management scientific community and anything chosen to publish in it has undergone peer review by people that are to say the least, very nit-picky when it comes to information and findings.
They used the soil productivity index for a wide-scale metric. The link is on this page at the USDA site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-tec...orting/soil-drainage-and-productivity-indexes
For the fine-scale metric they collected a minimum of 10 soil samples at the plants from 0 to 25cm at the base of each sampled plant.
They sampled the same 40 plant species (that were commonly selected by deer based on several previously published findings by different studies) where available (in the same genus if not, such as Rubus and Smilax) The 4 plant groups were forbs, semi-woody, shrubs, and trees. They collected tissue samples from young as well as older growth from the plant. They sampled N, P, K, and Ca because those have been shown to be the main growth limiting nutrients. The also recorded crude protein levels. They sampled in June and July across 4 years at the sites based on research showing that is the time of the year that is the most nutritionally demanding for gestation, lactation, and antler growth.
Only forbs and young semi-woody plant tissue contained the 16% CP level necessary for maximum antler growth.
If anyone has specific questions about the publication, I can post back.
Also, to note, this was published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, not just any old scientific study. This journal has the highest standards in the wildlife management scientific community and anything chosen to publish in it has undergone peer review by people that are to say the least, very nit-picky when it comes to information and findings.