Growth Factor

[Goose]

Here is something that I keep in my wallet (d&dh geek i know) and thought someone might like to see it. I believe I cut it out of a QDMA article.Obviously it is only an estimate but I thought it was interesting.
 
Age              2.5         3.5             4.5              5.5
 growth factor         1.28         1.16            1.09 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i                  85           109            126             138 
n                 90           115            134             146
c                 95           122            141             154
h                 100          128           148              162
e                 105          134           156              170
s
 
   

[Everyday Hunter]

ORIGINAL: Goose

Age              2.5         3.5             4.5              5.5
[size="1"]growth factor[/size]         1.28         1.16            1.09 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i                  85           109            126             138 
n                 90           115            134             146
c                 95           122            141             154
h                 100          128           148              162
e                 105          134           156              170
s  

That's very interesting. To be sure I'm interpreting the chart correctly, is this saying that a 3½ year old buck that measures about 115 would be a 134" buck if he lived another year? Likewise, a 5½ year old buck that tapes out around 162 inches was probably about 100 inches at a 2½ year old?

So does the growth factor average out to add 28% to the score after 2½ years, 16% after 3½ years, and 9% after 4½ years.

I'm sure food supply, stress, and other factors can cause this to vary a lot, but if I'm interpreting this correctly it makes the case for a strong correlation between antler size and age.

Steve

[Goose]

Your reading it right and yes it is a VERY broad generalization based on research pens and field observations.
You multiply the inches by the growth factor for the next year.

[69Viking]

Wow, you guys are taking deer geekness to whole new level!  LOL! 

[ReflexHunter]

That's really interesting to get an idea of how much an "average" deer can add to its rack over time.

[JPH]

Very intreasting, but I find it missing a bit on the top end. This only gives us 105" for good 2.5 and 134 for a good 3.5". I don't think that reflects the "top end" bucks of that age class in the midwest.
 
I suppose I could take the growth factors and work out the numbers myself, but I'm too lazy.

[DeanoZ]

ORIGINAL: JPH

Very intreasting, but I find it missing a bit on the top end. This only gives us 105" for good 2.5 and 134 for a good 3.5". I don't think that reflects the "top end" bucks of that age class in the midwest.

I suppose I could take the growth factors and work out the numbers myself, but I'm too lazy.

 
Thats because them "Freak Nasty" bucks of Iowa have a growth factor of 10 squared year over year [;)]

[Jdbllung]

In my neck of the woods a 3.5 year old is a rarity, with the AR's things have gotten better, but needing that chart is a ways off yet,  good info though.

[Goose]

JPH's Iowa growth factor-
2.5- 130
3.5-166
4.5-192
5.5-209
[:D][:D]
 
No, you bring up a good point.
 

[JPH]

Lol! I guess it did not come off that way, but that's really not how I meant it. Believe me, I am not letting 130 class 3.5's go very often. Okay never.

I was just saying that a 140-150 3.5 is not out of the question in good Midwestern habitat. Common? No, but they are around.

I'm still to lazy to figure the math.