Messing With Genetics, Gone Too Far

"The buck with the biggest antlers ever recorded on a white-tailed deer recently died of an infection. Sudden Impact, who lived at Wilderness Whitetails Ranch in Wisconsin, had horns that scored 492, and he was only 3 years old when he died in late August 2009."




 
 
This deer died last yr due to an infectin in his antlers. This to me, IMO, is messing with mother nature gone too far. I was my belief that doing all of this with genetics was to better the deer herd, and make them "Healthier". Not to grow such animals that have a hard time walking. This deers antlers weighed in at 30lbs by themselves.  What ever happened to hunters that went hunting and were happy with a spike, doe or a mainframe 8 pt. The hoopla about bigger is better is hogwash. I beleive in letting young bucks walk to grow to "Their " and "Mother Natures" potential, not  genetically enhanced.  You can see other freaks like this at Wilderness Whitetails Ranch in Wisconsin. Oh Yes, he has offspring.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

The process of "manufacturing" deer in pens to grow grotesquely huge antlers is; in my opinion, criminal for one, and two, complete ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!  And, that is the G-rated version of my opinion on this matter.  The people who own these freak show operations should be run out of town.  They are doing nothing to better the existence of the white-tailed deer in any way, shape or form.  You don't even want to get me started on the so-called "hunters" who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to shoot these pen-grown deer.  That is yet another can of worms. 
 
Now, don't get me wrong, I love big antlers, or I should say, I love BIG, NATURALLY-GROWN ANTLERS!  The progression in which a buck's antlers are naturally grown is what makes those antlers so special and unique.  No two antler configurations are alike.  In a way, antlers are like snowflakes.
 
I have no desire to go to one of these operations to look at the deer any more so than I would have gone to visit The Elephant Man exhibit back in the day!  These deer are being exploited in the same manner in which Joseph "John" Merrick -- The Elephant Man -- had been when he was still alive.  To put a man or an animal on display like that takes an extremely sick and depraved individual.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve 
 
 
  
 
 

Boy, do I ever agree with your post Steve!  Well said pardner!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

We have gone down this road before on the forum and my feeling have not changed a bit. I would never go to or even think about paying to hunt an animal that as Steve said, is being exploited because of how big the "FARMER" was able to grow his antlers. Mother nature intends for certain animals to grow big antlers and some to grow small ones. No matter what the size, they are all trophies if grown "Naturally" and taken leagally and ethically.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I looked at the picture of that poor animal again and it makes me want to puke!  30# of antlers on a poor friggin whitetail.  He probably broke his neck trying to hold that much weight up, rather than dying from an infection  

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Gimme a 110 class mainframe 8 that is symmetrical and pretty over that ugly mass of crap on that poor deer's head!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

I couldn't agree wtih you more Bowman!  Looking at that picture makes me angry at the people and sad for the animal!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06