People probably grow much of the pine more due to future income and being able to claim a current use exemption on taxes. Deer aren�t hurting for food in south Alabama though. It's not the Midwest but they sure ain't starving or anything. Pine stands do go through a few stages where they have bare understories but many stands have vibrant understories full of all kinds of broadleafs and legumes. The landscape is checker boarded with all age classes. Many thousands and thousands of acres are burned annually too which rejuvenates lots of new food.

But wouldn't the genetics come from the rich soil that once or does now provide the ag fields? I really don't know but it seems it would.

Sounds great,I hunt an 80 acre tract of land in Elmore county it has a huge beeaverpond in the swamp.With numerous creeks running through the entire property. The owner rents the fields oh to farm. The first few years the farmer planted watermelelon,s . I saw plenty of deer but mostly does and
young bucks. Then for the last 2 years he planted 30 aces of soybeans, That made all the difference in the world,The bucks have got huge I killed an 'll point with heavy mass and a 20 inch spread.I had 4 shooter bucks on camera all of them with good mass and good spreads one had like 9 inch brow tines he was seen by the land owner 2 weeks. Ago so he will be a stud next year.all the does had twins so next season should be awesome. BUT if you have farm land and you hunt soybeans is the ticket to bigger deer.

Maybe the genetics where more of a pure breed of northern strain than they are now. I would think years of breeding with native Alabama deer would make kind of made hi yella kinda breed of deer.

Not exactly sure what you are asking/saying, but the deer are born with their genetics and that doesn't change with nutrition. Nutrition (lots of it determined by the soil) and age let them reach their full genetic potential.

I'm guessing that most southern deer never reach anywhere close to their genetic potential.

I'm asking doesn't the food source play a major part in their genetics or even future genetics? Just like what the OP was posting about. I've seen it myself growing up and hunting the black belt. Back in the late seventies early eighties when we had soybean fields of abundance they produced big healthy deer with mass antler growth. Now those same deer that once had those genetics no longer or at best occasionally produce mass antler growth due to the pine trees and CRP fields that now replace those ag fields like the QDM article was saying. Is this not possible? Or is it we don't let them grow old enough to really get that information? Maybe it could be both?

^^^^^^ This is exactly right

Someone may come along shortly and answer your question more scientifically than I can. In short, no, the genetics of an animal are not influenced by food. Food can ensure an animal reaches their full potential but it won't change his genetics.

What can have an effect on genetics is the theory of natural selection, basically "survival of the fittest". The deer in the Midwest are subject to harsher winters than we have here. Basically, the theory of natural selection would indicate that the smaller, weaker deer are killed off. Over time, this means most of the deer that live in these areas come from the deer that were bigger, healthier, and more adaptable to surviving those climates.

the "expression" of the genetics is for sure influenced by the soil, food, nutrition. The better nutrition(and health) of the deer OVER TIME the more the true genetic potential can be reached.

You need to read the article, that's exactly what it was about. How nutrition effects the expression of genetics in future generations. First generation was only a small increase , but the second was quite a big jump.

fat healthy mommas have fat healthy fawns that grow into fat healthy does that...you get the picture. A long proven tenent of wildlife management.

I get what you are saying about genetics, but those who put out minerals and feed year around.Aint the point to grow bigger and Heather deer.If you plan a good size feild of soybeans,not talking a couple of acres because deer will wipe them out quick. But I'm saying 20 to 30 acres within a 2 to 3 year period will change the size of the deer on the property you hunt.

Genetics are inherited. The best nutrition will never change their genetics, but it will help them to reach their potential. Soybeans are nutritious and help them reach their genetic potential.

There's NO Ag in that area. Some of those deer can live and die and never step foot in a food plot either. Age has a lot to do with some of the giants killed there.

Not saying the theory is completely false - but South AL has a gigantic age structure problem. A much, much lower percentage of bucks live long enough to show what they can be, compared to 30 years ago. That's a big, overlooked problem.

Soybeans & corn = bigger deer
Pines = smaller deer

I agree with you completely. Some of those midwestern states with lots of agriculture also have 1 buck limits. I'm sure that helps some deer reach maturity. Age, nutrition, and genetics are the 3 main factors. As a hunter, we can somewhat control 2 of those 3 factors.

BOOM!

2dogs, you knew I would finally step in Deer don't eat pinecones



No, No, No and No...



These are pines and it is a salad bar for deer. Great habitat and great bucks. It can carry both a large number of deer and carry them in healthy condition.



These are also pines. There is no ground cover so no food. It does not grow deer for crap. It is NOT about pines, its IS about habitat.

That is like saying these two stands are hardwoods - one has good habitat and year-round food, the other has no food except for 3 months of the year when acorns are dropping and no other redeeming qualities.







The environment does not change genetics AT ALL except for over a long period of generations. For instance, if you had 2 mice and cut off their tails and bred them, the young would still have long tails. You could continue to pair offspring and breed them until you die of old age but they would still breed offspring with long tails. You could do the same by feeding them a lot and making them fat and breeding them but the size of the offspring would not change.

Excellent point gobbler. Unfortunately when a landowner's primary objective is timber management they plant as shown in your pine stand #2 photo. I wish they would see the wildlife value as illustrated in your pics.

Have you seen any Big hogs in those soybeans? What part of Elmore county?