How to increase antler size

I hunt 20 acres, what can I do to make the bucks grow there max racks? The property has cows and most bucks are 3-4.

Truthfully that is a tall task on 20 acres. Mostly depends on your neighbors and if they want to also improve the herd. If you are letting them age (which is the number one factor in horn growth) while you neighbors are shooting them on site then that is hard to overcome IMO - good luck

At a property of that size without any more information, the simple answer is nothing you do will have a meaningful impact on increasing antler size. Assuming a 600 acre average range for a white tail deer and consistent utilization across all of that range, 97% of the time the buck you want to shoot is not on your property.

If you want to shoot deer with bigger antlers, you can still do what most recommend is the biggest bang for your buck being let deer reach mature age classes and provide improved nutrition. You can also try to increase the utilization of your 20 acres by creating better habitat (will be difficult with cattle on a property of that size) or by supplemental feeding above what your neighbors may be feeding. That way the deer that do make it to mature age classes might be more likely to visit your property on a more regular cadence. But all if these practices are going to depend on your neighbors significantly more than a property of a larger size

My only advice on 20 acres would be to make that the best 20 acres in the area. At that point you aren’t effecting the herd, you just want as many deer to venture into your property as possible. The more deer you attract, the more likely the one you want will come in.

Also, realize that supplemental feeding isn’t going to make the difference it can on a larger property. It becomes an attractant more than a supplement at that point.

Good luck

I agree with everything others have posted so far.
Keep in mind that depending on where you are, 20 acres may only have enough habitat to support one or two or possibly 3 TOTAL DEER of both sexes and all age classes. So, I dont think its realistic to EXPECT to ever kill a big mature buck, regardless of what actions you take.

It's not what if you will take a large buck or not ...it's a game of tricks that you will learn to practice that will bring in some deer from each ranch that surrounds your blind for food and protection. You will also loose bucks you invest in to those neighbors...but so what do ya have to loose? You will learn to enjoy those 20 acres of best fed and best smelling blind in the area.LOL I did that on about 35 acres on our 640 acres lease.
Enjoy yourself and dream and practice best blind around.
Hunt like a lion and live like a king with a lot of land.
Best of luck!!!

All good advice, but the only sure way is to build a tall fence and stock it with a couple of bucks. No fun, but you will increase antler size.

Biologists will tell you that not only will supplemental feeding have no impact on genetics, but it will also create no significant increase in the number of deer on a given property. It will only aid in the health of the numbers of deer the area will support based on the availability and quality of natural browse. For these reasons, and as others have commented, what lives or walks onto a 20-acre tract will be largely determined by the habitat and hunting practices of those around you.

Well said Texas ...and I can't disagree with anything you have said..also believe my deer density is 5.49 for my 600 acres and some what located by area natural browse and what is fed by me and others that hold the density tighter than the other 1800 acres around us that will not see a 5.49 but closer to a 12-15 density count due to the browse and feeders and hand thrown that the other hunters don't do...thus the travel for my density doesn't cover the same. I will be in control to some extent on what I do to draw a better density than areas around me. However, the bucks I see will be seen by others as well throughout the season and harvested. But I will see the most and the best in my area, in my opinion and my camera counts that other would love to have. The natural browse doesn't hold the deer in tight as a better feeding program will. No one on my lease will see the quality and numbers that I do. Just my camera pics and me will see what is in my area. When I show other hunters the deer in my area, some built feeder pens like mine..those that didn't ...didn't see what I did.
So, what the biologist have seen in their experiences is not comparable to mine. But yes my 600 acres will average 5.49(acres/deer) but it will be mush lower and better at my blind.
That's my best shot at seeing better deer and bigger deer number and can actually prove that with number counts that give me a ton of fun.
So, I love my kind of hunting than other types. I forgot to say I usually don't harvest a deer but every 3-4 years.

I will add to this the other situation that exist that does do what you are saying, Texas. In a small lot acreages less than 50 acres there becomes a liquid like density that is determined by the practices of your neighbors does hold true to a point as the smaller the lots no one has control of the density and the deer population will not exist in just a short time. No one has control what is located on LOTS...that's why P&W probably does not get involved. If no one has control of the herd ..there will be no herds. So, you are right.

I am in the same situation in Harrison County. I hunt a total of about 40 acres of private land surrounded by other properties and deer leases that are heavily hunted. Plus, 2 gas wells just went in right next to my property. This year, I will stay out of it except for filling a couple of small gravity feeders and check a camera every now and then. Other than that, I think I'm going to let it grow up and only mow my ROW right before season opens. My deer (if there are any at all) will only get corn and thick brush.

Batman, are you serious or is this sarcasm? You know its only 20 ac?

It’s a little “tongue in cheek”, but it’s the only sure way on 20 acres.

I thought so but wanted everyone to know. I havent followed your post a lot but enough to know what I thought you meant.

I know it would be a lot on tpwd, but I’ve often wondered what metrics tpwd uses to establish deer bag limits and seasons. With the exception of MLD and some public areas sometimes, they have no idea how many deer there are or how many are taken each year. When the deer log came out, I always wondered what the point was if we didn’t turn them back in for statistic purposes. Yes it would be a pain I suppose, but could landowner tags for whitetail per acreage and population as other states do help this problem? Or is the money behind hunting concerned that participation may fall? This could prevent 4 hunters from tagging out on the same 40 acres, while each shot a 15” 3.5 8 point. Except for uncle Johnny...he got a 9 pointer this year. Properties like this could get a few doe tags, but maybe a buck tag every second or third year?

Other than feeding protein and letting young bucks walk, one thing that is often overlooked is fertilizing the browse species that deer use. One bag of triple 13 goes a long way spot treating. It increases the nutrition of the browse and also makes it taste better to the deer. When the deer are healthy they can better grow to their genetic potential.

An antler pump. Do a google search for pump to increase size.

I tried, but apparently you still the genetics to see any growth.

My home place is 25 acres. I have had it for 4 years and seen mature deer every year. I think the biggest thing you can do is not shooting them till they are mature, make food and water available and cover. I struggle with cover as the place is pretty open. If I had brush it would be a little antler mine.

Best thing I've found to increase antler size, for me, was diesel fuel.


It enabled me to drive to places that had bigger deer.

Mineral site.

x2. You cant kill em if they aint there.

x3

In Op’s situation, Feed, feed, feed, feed. Make it a destination. Id supplement with ag and pellet protein and cotton seed. Year round. Season Id switch from free choice to timed

A lot of this stuff “all depends”. I’ve had my place, 133 heavily wooded acres South of Bowie, for close to 40 years. We used to have a lot of big, healthy, deer that ran in herds. Then a 4 year drought hit and we lost a lot of wildlife of all kinds. We also lost a lot of plant life. The drought has been somewhat broken but my 3 acre tank is still only about 60% full. No squirrels, rabbits or possums but an occasional coon on game cams.

In the last 3 years only one legal buck has been seen/taken.

I had 10 acres in Bandera. All you can do is proved feed & perhaps water to draw animals to your property. I was surrounded by other 10 acre parcels. i could hear their feeders going off and timed mine to try to draw animals to mine first. If you have cattle or hogs your feeders need to be fenced.

Age is key, and I know your neighbors will shoot them if you don’t. I’d at least talk to the hunting neighbors first just to see what kind of harvest approach would be wise. “The guys next door will shoot him” mentality gets a lot of 3-4-1/2 bucks shot. If they have 15” 8 pts with a 9 mixed in here and there nailed all over and hanging all in the rafters of the camphouse, blast away