Why Aren't My Deer Antlers Growing To Their Maximum Potential?

[Sir_Reginald_Duff_III]

I shall keep this post short as I am rather scarce on time.

During my second year, I corralled two deer and imprisoned them in the confines of the Earth, erecting a dirt hut over them and labeling it the "Deer Pit Mk. 1." The antlers they had dropped were only that of the third/fourth stage, but I had found them halfway through the winter, so I had chalked it up to them spawning rather recently and thus not having enough time to reach full growth.

Now, in the third year, as winter fast approaches its denouement, I have returned to Deer Pit Mk. 1 to find my deer, both of which are in a similar state to how they were in the previous year.

When I came back to them in March, I had found that they were both a little less than halfway through their antler growth stages. Not only that, but earlier in the winter, I had found an entire herd of deer close by to the Deer Pit Mk. 1. Upon sighting this new herd of deer, I took the liberty of rounding each of them up and also burying them alive in order to farm the antlers off of their skulls. The pit they are in will be called the "Deer Pit Mk. 2."

The inhabitants of the Deer Pit Mk. 2, whom I had never seen before, had antlers in the fourth/fifth stages. I am assuming that these deer spawned rather recently, but I am unsure of why they consistently have bigger, better antlers compared to that of the deer who reside in Deer Pit Mk. 1. Is there a system in place that detects that I am "farming" my deer and thus minimizes their antler growth? Is there some level of RNG I simply cannot comprehend?

I fear the rowdy inhabitants of Deer Pit Mk. 2 may revolt soon. Please aid me.

Edited May 1, 2025 by Sir_Reginald_Duff_III

[LadyWYT]

I'm guessing it's probably luck of the draw on what size antlers a deer will grow that year. I'm not sure if the size is locked to the individual creature, or randomized per year. In any case, I'd assume it's coded that way so that there's more variety in antler drops, as well as ensuring that the largest horns/antlers are proper trophies.