Abstracts

Abstract: Culling, or selective harvest, is a widely practiced strategy aimed at increasing antler size in managed populations of cervids. Microevolution of phenotypic traits through selection has long been practiced in laboratory or domestic populations, but the effect of culling on wild populations is poorly documented. Ideally, the offspring sired by desirable males should display improved antler traits after culling. However, young individuals may not be able to express their phenotypic potential in variable environments. We evaluated the effects of culling intensity and culling criteria as part of a long-term experimental study of white-tailed deer in southern Texas. We established 3 treatments including, intensive culling (3,500 acres), moderate culling (18,000 acres), and control (5,000 acres). Each autumn during 2006-2015, we captured male deer, estimated age, and measured antler characteristics. Deer that did not meet culling criteria for their age class were sacrificed during 2006-2012. We recorded 4,264 captures of 2,503 individual bucks, and culled 1,333. Most bucks were sired by males that exceeded the culling criteria. Nonetheless, culling intensity in the yearling age class (intensive treatment) ranged annually from 50 to 100% of bucks captured. Forty-eight percent of yearlings classified as culls would transition from cull to acceptable at 2.5 years old, while 33% would transition from acceptable to culls. In the south Texas environment, phenotypes of physically immature males may not correlate to their genetic potential. The results of this study will have important management implications for harvest management, including antler restrictions common in Southeastern States.