Took a walk with the dogs over on a power line corridor by my house. Kicked out a buck. I can say buck because it still was carrying hardware on his noggin. Seems a tad late, no? Wish I had a camera with me..... :banghead:
So... Are ya gonna be huntin' there next October?
... mike ...
Here in MO it's common to see them as late as the third week of March. I grew up in PA and I don't recall seeing many with antlers after March first but I'm sure there were some.
Last year there was a buck near my house that carried his gear well into spring. This was a cowhorn spike, and I forget if he lost the antlers in late March or late April. I'll go check...
I have a pic of him dated March 19 with them on, but I seem to remember him having them in April. I posted here at the time, because I thought it was way late.
Killdeer
I saw one on March 1st a few years back myself. That's the latest I have ever seen.
I saw one a fews years back on April 6th still carrying. Amazing to think he could still shed them and still grow a brand new set by mid summer.
I have a heavy racked six pointer wider than his ears still carrying both sides in my neck of the woods.
Last year I saw a six point running around the second week in March.
I've seen a buck with a set still on the 1st week of April here in Indiana.
Bona
Around here you are subject to see deer on into march with antlers.You can also see bucks that have dropped them by Jan 1st.(our last day)Our deer are all messed up and don't know what normal deer do. :D
Not late at all around here. I see them with both antlers past mid April.
Dennis
I found a fresh rub yesterday while out shooting on the range. Oldskool was with me and can vouch for it. Many of them still have antlers on. As to why they would still be rubbing?
-Charlie
Areas with with a fairly good buck,doe ratio.OR areas that a good mature bucks numbers or bucks that get injured in some way.
These bucks don't pertisate in the rut.These bucks there body produce alot less testostreone.So there horns they on longer.Cut out the injureing part and its realy good scouting tool so it's really good to see this.You know your buck to doe ratio is good or you have a good mature buck population.
I found fresh scrapes last week while hanging a stand for September.They keep breeding,rubbing and scraping untill they drop antlers.A couple years ago a week before Turkey season started I saw an 8 point run a doe all over a feild in full rut.Later than I have ever seen such but if the antlers are there they are still acting like bucks. :)
I just got trail cams from last week of three different bucks with both antlers still on their heads. Seems like I have been wasting my time shed hunting for the last two weeks.
I saw a monster several years back on April 1st. I believe those deer are the ones that are born latest in the season.
Back home in Arkansas where the doe/buck ratio is all out of whack the bucks tend to keep racks into and occasionally through March. It can take that long to get all the business done. I haven't noticed it being that way here in Kansas yet.
I hope you don't think I'm playing, "I can top that", but I saw a buck with one half a rack on May 10 in SE Ohio. I remember telling my son to remember that date, because I had trouble believing what I saw. Jim
Saw 4 bucks in my yard this last Sat. One only had one side though.