Testing a Local Inbreeding Hypothesis as a Cause of Observed Antler Characteristics in Managed Populations of White-Tailed Deer

The increased use of antler restrictions by state game agencies has led to a focus on antlers the hunting public, particularly potential for an association between genetics and characteristics. We analyzed microsatellite data from 1231 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) three states (Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas) within USA determine if genetic relatedness, internal relatedness (IR), homozygosity weighted locus (HL), or correlations among uniting gametes (Fis) influenced total points, score, non-typical points malformations. Within each location, in lower upper quartile intervals number score were unrelated (95% CI included 0 was <0) relatively heterozygous four measures inbreeding. Antler positively age but negatively IR HL, except Mississippi. Relatedness, Fis did not differ groups with without Perceived differences quality do appear be affected heterozygosity result close inbreeding because we found genome-wide correlated