I WENT OUT YESTERDAY ON THE LAST DAY OF OUR SEASON HEAR IN OK
I PASSED UP A YOUNG BUCK WITH ONE ANTLER AND SAW ANOTHER NICE BUCK ALSO WITH ON ANTLER
I KNOW THAT NUTRITION PLAYS A ROLE IN SHEDDING BUT WAS JUST WONDERING WHEN YOUR BUCKS NORMALLY SHED IN DIFFERNET AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
Sorry about the capitals my key board was stuck on caps lock.
I've seen bucks that lost their antlers on trail cameras as early as December 10th in my area in WI. Around here it seems to depend a good bit on the weather (snowfall and temps).
I've been seeing quite a few here in Pa without antlers.
I have picts of 6 different bucks from 2 weeks ago that had all their headgear. From last year I have picts of two half racks taken on the 22nd of Feb. I live in southern MD.
i've seen racks as late as spring gobbler season in va.
WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING? All caps are hard to read bud....
We have had a bad winter here and alot of deer have lost their horns. I have found 20 sheds in the last week.
In wisconsin, This year the deer are stressed with all the high hunting presure and the low number of animals state wide. I also have seen deer without there head gear dec 16. Right now, most of the deer have shed there horns in my area.
I shot one Dec 5th and had both antlers fall off when I went to drag him. I also saw one March 1st with full headgear.
I have seen the deer in my area loose thier antlers at a variety of times. Some as early as mid december and as late as the frist week of march. Most seem to loose thier's in mid february. I personaly think it might be the differance between being an early or late fawn the year they were born. But thats just my thoughts. I went for a drive around town last week and I seen this buck but seen another 20 with thier horns still on. (http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/IMG_3868-1.jpg) (http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/barebow13/IMG_3869-1.jpg)
Horn growth and shedding is directly related to testosterone levels in bucks. When testosterone levels rise in late summer the velvet begins to shed and after the rut, when all available does are bred testosterone levels begin to drop, and so do the antlers. Generally the dominant bucks will be the last to shed as they are still seeking any doe that comes into heat.
A few years ago my wife and I were in Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains in late march. All but two dominant bucks had shed there antlers and the dominant bucks were still chasing a few hot does.
The photo period probably has an effect because antler growth and the rut are effected by the amount of daylight hours.
About now!
Here in N Idaho the earliest I found a match set was Dec. 29th. The flip side of that is last year I spotted a buck packing both sides in early March! I'd say the norm around here would be most bucks have dropped by early Feb. and I start finding lots of sheds by second or third week of Jan.
Travis
I know here in Washington some will drop in late December or early January.
I photographed a buck last year on March 22, and he still had both sides.
Brett
This past year I saw a nice buck with one side on Dec. 15th 2009. He was one I was after but with one side I'm hoping I'll have a crack at him next season.
Saw a dozen mulies yesterday with their headgear in place.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dirtybird:
This past year I saw a nice buck with one side on Dec. 15th 2009. He was one I was after but with one side I'm hoping I'll have a crack at him next season.
I think they started shedding a little earlier hear in Ohio this year than they have in about the past 10 years. The bucks I see in the beggining of January usually have their antlers, but this year they seemed to have started shedding them around the middle of December. Got kinda cold earlier than usual this year. (I think)
About 8 Dec on Kodiak one year, I shot 3 bucks. Had to search in the snow for all the antlers which fell off when they rolled down the hill.
In 2007, I picked up the first fresh shed on December 16. On December 17 in 2008. I found the first one this season right around Christmas. It was kicked off, not shed naturally. I watched a buck shed his remaining antler last February. He shook his head like he had water in his ears and it went flying. I couldn't believe how far he threw it; probably 30-35 feet from where he was standing. I believe they are shedding earlier than they used to twenty years ago. I think the cold has something to do with it but also stress caused by better sex ratios and more competition between bucks due to QDM. I had a big nontypical walk past me last Wednesday but I'd say 75% of our bucks are already shed right now.
I shot a young buck on the last day of season here (Jan. 15th) that had already shed his antlers. I thought it was a doe or I would not have taken the shot, guess I was too concentrated on picking a spot and didn't look close enough! I will try and pay better attention next year!
Mentioned this earlier in another thread but yesterday I jumped a giant 5x5 with a 12 inch drop off his main beam. Headgear intact. I found one smaller 4 pt shed...I am hoping I find that beasts' shed. I just got permission to hunt that small farm and was thinking it is perfect habitat for a Booner. Guess I was right!
My trail cam showed two bucks shed on Jan 13 they both had full racks on the 12th. 3rd buck shed half on 16th and one still has both sides. Have not checked pictures today
Now that are snow is melting the last two times I was out I have found 8 sheds 2 complete sets and 4 singles. Last year I found over 30 most early in Jan. But when I was out today I saw a buck with both sides still on. :campfire:
Of the three bull moose in our yard yesterday only the fork bull had shed a antler.
I have gotten trail cam photos in late Feb. down here in Bama of bucks with full head gear.
It blows my mind that some of you guys are already finding sheds.
I had no idea those northern bucks dropped so early.
Always an interesting topic for me. Some bucks have already shed their antlers around here and a buddy mistakenly shot a shed buck that he thought was a doe with a muzzleloader Sunday. Been taking late winter deer counts and notes in Ohio for years, and from personal observation and what gathered - aside from the health of the animal, shed timing is individual and personally believe it is genetics. Haven't been able to find that in writing anywhere and not a lot of scientific info on the subject I could find, but it's been written and confirmed by deerfarmers that "healthy" bucks shed within a couple days of the same date year after year. Size of the antler doesn't seem to matter either. Of course, wounds, bad health or stress can alter the timing.
Normal conditions in my area, a few will shed in late December, although a few may carry into or through April, (once seen full blown rutting activity by a racked buck on April 13th) but the peak casting time here is around mid-February thru mid March.
Most regrowth begins in late April or May, and throughout the summer, individual bucks can be seen at different stages of development at the same time.
The other morning when i left my house at 5:30 there were 15 deer in my side yard with one boomer 8 point. I think normally in central NJ about the middle of feb. but i have seen bucks in early march in years with a mild winter. It also depends on how much breeding that they have done.
Here in Ohio(southeastern) it is the earliest I've ever seen them shed. Found one antler on Dec. 15th 2009. Went out today for a bit and found seven sheds. Saw plenty of deer and only one with headgear still attached. Are season doesn't end for a couple more weeks but it looks like I'm eating tag soup with that loser Gene. :bigsmyl:
Late December to early April...and everything in between. I would guess most years that 80% are down by about March 10 or so, but I know in early March I always see bucks still carrying. This in east central Nebraska. Found both sides of a gnarly spike the other day, but there's a fellow in NE Nebraska who's already found a bunch; we are REALLY stressed in eastern Nebraska with lots of very difficult snow and it's not likely to go away anytime soon, and there are some that believe it accelerates shedding. I can't say if that's true or not.
Saw 3 mature bucks today all with antlers in tack! Saw 4 other smaller bucks this week all with full head gear.
Southeastern PA
I saw a 4 point this morning on my way to work with both antlers intact. Some years I have seen them with antlers dropped in mid December, and last year I got a lot of trail cam pics with bucks with big bald spots in early January. I think it just depends on the temperature/ snow fall amounts. This year has been off and on cold/warm with very little snowfall in my part of mid-Michigan.
Here in SE Alaska, I have been watching a buck with antlers since the season ended Dec 31.(Of course) He has taken up residence in a small area that I stump shoot, and we seem to play a little game where I find him and then he circles around and follows me for about an hour.
I don't approach close enough to spook him, but he has come curious to me within 20 yards. I saw him last week, will check on him again tomorrow or the next day weather permitting. I hope to collect the shed antlers, so will keep looking even if he moves out and I stop seeing him.
They've been loosing them in CT since Dec. I hit the shed woods hard around third week of Feb. I think most of the bigger deer have dropped by then.
... when I get them home from the hunt..LOL! Sorry I seen a few already here in Ohio this week..Jeff
Here in MA,late Dec.-mid jan
Antler shedding and testosterone may be connected, but have a hard time believing or agreeing bucks are provided with only a certain amount of testosterone and it can be used up - theory.
Still think its genetics.
I've seen alot of does and a few small bucks plus I've done quite-a-bit of walking and no sheds. I'd say middle of Feb. Jason
Blacktails usually around the first of April...PR
around here (southern NY and SW CT) they drop anytime between mid Dec and I have seen antlered deer 2 times in late march. I hunted CT on monday and saw a really good 8pt, a 110" 8pt, 2 spikes and two 4 pointers. The young bucks were sparring and chasing a yearling doe around. I saw between 60 and 80 deer total....man they are yarding up in the oaks. I couldn't hunt this afternoon but got a few minutes to glass the area midday and saw the 115" 8pt again. all the bucks still had both sides. we'll see if i can get an arrow into something tomorrow!
I can confirm that it appears the deer in southern NY are still carrying headwork with them. Spied a 2.5 year old 8 walking around a group of does yesterday.
Found 4 today.2 last week.
Zbone. A Buck's testosterone level varies with the time of year. A drop in testoserone is what causes the antlers to drop. It's not that his T runs out, it's that his glands reduce production.
Even without antlers they will still breed does.
Bucks are individuals and their antler drop will vary with the individual.
Saw a group of three bucks yesterday, here in southern Indiana that had all of their headgear intact. I have seen a nice 4x4 mule deer in Colorado that still had his antlers in the first week of May!!
LKH - I'll totally concur.
Was only debating those that believe the myth (there have been a few through the years) that a buck only has so much spuck, and once he runs out due to breeding (or the other thing...8^)) whether early by doing it a lot or later by not breeding as much just isn't right.
Guy (certified biologist) just posted a great analogy of this topic over on the other site's wheelie side.
Personally believe it is drop in testosterone; along with health that coincide, but also believe genetics may contribute.
Day length and hormone levels
Why antlers actually shed. The physiological cue is the male hormone testosterone. The way this works is complicated, but changing day lengths are sensed by the eyes, which send this message, via the optic nerve, to the pineal gland. The pineal gland - a pea-sized organ at the base of the brain - produces many different hormones. One hormone produced is luteinizing hormone, which controls the amount of testosterone produced in the testes.
The antler cycle lags behind the changes in day length because the hormonal changes take time. During fall, decreasing day lengths cause melatonin production to increase, resulting in decreased production of both luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Decreasing testosterone levels then cause the antlers to shed.
Taken from http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_wds_antler.shtml :
Also environment and antler cycle
A restricted diet has been found to cause bucks to shed their antlers early. It has been suspected that the lack of adequate nutrition somehow affects testosterone output. Nutritionally-stressed bucks may also grow their antlers and shed their velvet later. Older-aged bucks are thought to shed their antlers earlier than younger bucks. It has also been reported that higher-ranked (more dominant) bucks cast their antlers sooner than lower-ranked bucks. I have seen small forks and sixes in Wisconsin with their antlers on in April! The specific date when a buck will shed his antlers may be determined more by his individual antler cycle than any other factor. This cycle is independent of other bucks and is believed to be centered on each animal's birth date. Although there is no clear evidence that weather directly affects antler shedding, it is likely that severe winters may also cause bucks to shed their antlers earlier than normal because of the nutritional stress this causes.
Taken from http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_wds_antler.shtml :
Out today to find it a little better day than last week found 9 from this year and 1 stuck in an old round bale of hay from last year. I'll take same pics and get them on sunday. No real big ones yet but still looking. :archer:
I saw about 30 bucks yesterday, and they were all still wearing their antlers with pride. Here's a couple that let me get up close and personal with them.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/Wildlife%20Photos/Jan22buck5.jpg)
I seen 7 city bucks with horns two days ago in south east michigan but the bucks in mid to late december 250 miles north here in michigan were shed I think it was Dec 13th my friends wife shot a 8 point and it lost both horns before it died they had to go back and find them in the snow.
Out in the woods today, and my friend found the right side off of a nice 8pt.
Well as of today my friend and I have a total of twenty seven antlers from this year. I usually don't even look for antlers this early but they seem to shed early this year.
Good topic. Lots of good info.
Hoping to do some post season scouting midday today in some thick areas on public land. Going to keep my eye out for sheds... hope to find my first one. :thumbsup: