I believe it is genetics for the most part.

If you see my thread of the double drop pics. I have pics of two other deer in the last few years, almost in the exact spot this deer is standing that had single drops.
I also have pics of this same buck from last year and he has a little "droopy" growth of antler that is on his right main beem exactly where the drop formed this year.
We have killed two bucks in the last couple of years that had this same droopy growth, If we would have known then what we know now....

 

I have always heard it was genetics..I also read somewhere that just because a buck has drop this year does't always mean he will have one next year. A drop tine buck is my dream buck I don't even care if he was just 15 inches wide with 8 points and drop I wwould be happy as heck.

 

I was talking to Dr. James Kroll about this topic at a seminar a few weeks back...he says that drop-tines are the rarest inhereted antler trait.

 

Genetics all the way...

 

i have one on the wall!! a 5 inch drop!.. sorry had to do a little bragging!

but from the sounds of it i think its all gentics

 

I've been lucky enough to kill 3 drop tine bucks, 2 of them with double drops. I'd say it is genetic. The buck I am holding out for right now has one too.

 

im ready to see him sask. you always kill some studs lol

 

They won't necessarily have one the next year. I had one 2 years ago that had about a 4" drop tine on his right side. The next year he did not but he had a hole about 1/4" deep in the exact same spot his drop tine was the year before

 

The double droptine I killed a few years ago had never had one in his previous years (well at least the 4 previous years). Out of nowhere he grew matching droptines. I would have said it comes on some bucks with age but I have seen some trail cam pics of youngins with drops. I think maybe its the deer Gods rewarding us when we're really good

 

I had pics of a buck that had a drop on one side, then the next year had none, then the next year had two that were not matching. A true drop is going to be genetic and probably only comes with age I believe but I don't really know. A buddy of mine shot a great buck that had a drop that was really just bent over from the main beam during the growth stage and just stayed that way.

 

Awesome thread!!!

Let's see pics boys of the single or double droptine bucks you have killed or got on trail cam!!

This is my most sought after dream buck...with matching droptines on each side. Someday.

Ohio Booners...your mainframe 10 with the matching drops on both sides is the picture perfect amazing rack that inherits my dreams!!!!!!!!

 

hahaha, I appreciate the shout out my friend. He is by far my favorite buck. I have one that scores a good bit bigger but this guy is front and center in the trophy room.

Awesome thread!!!

Let's see pics boys of the single or double droptine bucks you have killed or got on trail cam!!

This is my most sought after dream buck...with matching droptines on each side. Someday.

Ohio Booners...your mainframe 10 with the matching drops on both sides is the picture perfect amazing rack that inherits my dreams!!!!!!!!

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The landowner gave me a shed from the previous year from this buck. The drop tine was an inch or two shorter and the G2 a little longer but there was an amazing amount of similarity. I'd say for this particular deer it was definitely genetic.

 

I've shot a drop tine. The biologist I spoke to said you had a better chance of shooting a Booner than a drop tine buck!

 

I'm after this one

 

Shot this when I was 14 with a 70# Mathews MQ1, double drop in velvet with a 6" drop on his left and 2" on his right. 11 points

 

you dont see many DT bucks here in NC but i hope i come across one some day.

 

I have never seen one while hunting........supposedly my dad saw one last year in the front of their house but I never ran across him unfortunately!

 

Gotta love a big drop tine buck.

 

Great buck ohiobooners!

 

Thank ya brother. He's the crowning jewel of my collection for sure.

 

Don't see many here in southwest Iowa, one thing I have seen a lot more here though is split brow tines. See very few "nontypical" deer as well. Lots of 8's and 10's, but not many true nontypical racks. Eastern Iowa, that is a different story.

 

Agreed.

 

Here's an awesome 2 year old buck that I call "Little Freak-Nasty." Last fall he showed up on a friend's farm that I hunt as a beautiful yearling 10-pt. He didn't have drop-tines then but did have matching stickers in the same spot. I've got my fingers crossed for him to make it through the orange army again this fall...