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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Gun on December 24, 2009, 11:00:00 AM

Title: Shedding already!
Post by: Gun on December 24, 2009, 11:00:00 AM
Now that the season is over I'm watching for Bucks on food sources to see what made it. Saw one of the big ones I was after a week and a half ago with one side and thought he may have broke it off (there was a lot of that this year). But yesterday I saw him again and the other side is gone now. There was also another one out there with both sides gone. Too bad the snow is so deep. But then again don't want to stress them out this early in the winter to scare them away from much needed nutrition. March will come soon enough.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: lpcjon2 on December 24, 2009, 11:14:00 AM
when you find them post a pick.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: ishiwannabe on December 24, 2009, 11:36:00 AM
I had a big bodied buck walk by at twenty yards. Two bloody circles where the antlers should have been. That was about a week and a half ago...
Two years ago, a buddy got a "meat doe" that turned out to be a buck that shed in early December.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: BCWV on December 24, 2009, 11:47:00 AM
I went out this morning. I had a buck come by that didn't offer me a shot. He had a 3 pt on his right side but had lost his left one.
I shot a buck back some years ago, when I still gun hunted, during our doe season which was the first week of December. That's the earliest I had seen them start to shed in my area. I've wondered, what causes it to be earlier or later sometimes? Is it a nutrition thing as in the amount of food available?
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Sheepshooter on December 24, 2009, 12:01:00 PM
My buddy has seen a couple already shed this year and we've found some BIG sheds right around Christmas in past years.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: 4 point on December 24, 2009, 12:31:00 PM
I found one shed today when I went to change cards out in my trail camera. When I looked at my pic's there where two others that had lost there horns. We have had a bad winter so far and it sounds like there is more to come. I shot a buck with my muzzleloader yesterday and I was very careful when I loaded him as to not nock a horn off.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on December 24, 2009, 12:34:00 PM
Starting to shed here also  :eek:  I saw one of are big bucks Monday night and both sides were gone.

Tracy
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: nkw880 on December 24, 2009, 01:10:00 PM
my cousins little girl found a very nice shed on the 16th last year while rabbit hunting we found a pair on the 22nd that were around 130 and my uncle shot one last year that was completely shed i always thought they shed alot later than what i have seen
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Paul/KS on December 24, 2009, 03:00:00 PM
Hi Tracy,
Kinda makes ya wonder about that late "doe" season we have coming up at the New year here in Kansas...
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Owlgrowler on December 24, 2009, 04:36:00 PM
Yeah, here in NJ some call it button buck,/shed buck season, six more weeks of gun. Stinks.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: JJ1956 on December 24, 2009, 04:42:00 PM
My buddy shot a buck last week, they went to drag it out and both antlers came off in their hands
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: glass76 on December 24, 2009, 06:40:00 PM
The earliest I have ever found any sheds in my area is the first week of December.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Dean Lintz on December 24, 2009, 08:06:00 PM
I am by Michigan Indiana state line a friend of mine took what he thougt was a big doe. It turned oout to be a buck with bloody stumps on Dec.6 this year.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: bowhunterfrompast on December 24, 2009, 08:11:00 PM
Will be waiting by the  :campfire:  til March thaw. Post pics when it's time, love shed hunting.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: ChristopherO on December 24, 2009, 09:07:00 PM
It is interesting what times they will shed.  I've seen bucks in early March that hadn't lost their antlers, yet.  It is rare but it has happened.  Usually around late January we start noticing it more.
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Gordon martiniuk on December 24, 2009, 09:45:00 PM
Gun  went out to my cameras today everyone had there antlers on  in my spots got a pic of a real big buck ,, and some not so bad bucks no does .. snow getting deep so will leave my spots alone till it warms up mabe then will go look for sheads on snowshoes and change sd cards and batt's
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Gun on December 24, 2009, 10:51:00 PM
I've had a theory that when they shed had something to do when they were born. This particular Buck blows that thought. He's at least 6 yrs. old. Very unique markings on him. The first two yrs. he didn't have antlers when he showed up in early Jan. Then the last 2 yrs. he has kept them well into Feb. He won't score very good as his right side has always been a bit wonky and stunted. A 4 point with a extra point around the brow tine. The left is more typical and impressive. Last year he was 5 with a short 3" squiggly drop tine. This year he grew a lot and would have easily been a Booner if the right side matched the left. I found the right side last year. It's the one with the broken off brows on the left.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Kagyone/Sheds09-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Shedding already!
Post by: Gun on December 24, 2009, 10:56:00 PM
That's cool Gord. I put my cuddeback out today on a main trail where they're coming into the field. There is a big Spruce where they seem to be using a licking branch. I'm sure not seeing very many does and honestly think the herd is out of balance. Its those *@#% Coyotes!