I spotted a nice 8 and 10 pt last year. Both bucks had short brow nines. Are they likely to have short brow tines the following

[MN Outdoorsman]

I spotted a nice 8 and 10 pt last year. Both bucks had short brow nines. Are they likely to have short brow tines the following years even though the other tines were and will be fairly long? I notice that often times close to record bucks just lack that long length in the brow tines. Are deer doomed genetically to have short brow tines if they have it one year?

[30-CAL]

I bet this has a lot to due with the genetics but it may have something to do with feed and mineral intake and the age of the deer.

[DSMbirddog]

Food can impact the size and growth of a deers rack. I think genetics is more likely to control the size of the brow tines as opposed to the other tines.

[MN Outdoorsman]

Thanks for the responses. The genetics and nutrition the deer get in this area are pretty good, thus the reason for the nice sized racks. It's just those little brow tines that I keep seeing and wondering what makes them so small while the other tines are so long.