Out last night 3 bucks had only half their racks and my sons buck lost both sides when he fell down.Anyone else seeing this?

And last night at the check station they said 8 other bucks lost their racks when shot or when dragging them out.

Same thing in northern MN.

Iowa has up to date harvest info on their DNR website and they have listed 303 shed bucks harvested to date. Makes you wonder how many were big bruisers when they had headgear taken as "big does"?

what causes them to shed this early???

-hov

As soon as most the does are bread the buck's testasterone levels drop and then the antlers do. The bucks that still have antlers are probably the domanent bucks in the area servising the remaining does..

Hova,

Most of it has to do with body condition and nutrition. I've seen bucks in Iowa with good food sources in Iowa hold their racks until March. It's not common, but it can happen.

I also remember reading that possibly the AMOUNT of breeding a buck has done throughout the rut may contribute to earlier shedding. The thinking is testosterone levels are kept lower with more breeding. Small bucks breed less, and shed later.

Yep...droppin' here in Canada!

im from kansas and every year i hear stories of a few deer that have antlers fall off when pulled on or after there shot. last season i shot a doe on dec 31 and when i went back the next morning to look for my arrow i found a shed that i know for sure wasnt there the day before. i personally think there are a few deer every where that shed early just like there are a few does that cycle late. in my opinion

Sure seems early though, not even Christmas.

Yeah Burnsie, sure does! But then look at the weather we've been having, seems more like January than December!

Then too, this whole season has been strange here, for me!

Early Spring?  

Not here yet. Its too early.

I saw one today with the left side missing, he went by me this morning with a small fork horn. He was following the much younger dear.

The buck with the left side missing was a dandy but very wore down.

Seen a couple in the neighborhood here walking around with only one side.

Happens like this every year, I know it seems early but some always shed early and some carry them late.

 We start shed hunting after the first of the year and scouting for next season also.    

Tracy

Working with the check station here at Quantico, VA all the bucks checked in since Saturday still very solid in the horns and none reported yet missing any.


Earl

Saw 2 more half racks today.And my sons deer was a dominate buck 130 class 8pt with 12 inch g2, As soon as it hit the ground they fell off.

I'm a taxidermist and I had a guy bring me a buck that dropped an antler while hanging on his game pole at camp. It had both antlers when he hung it and the one fell off while hanging. Then I had a guy bring me one the other day that when it fell, the antler came off but not a shed. There was a knob left on the skull at the pedicle and a hollow out up in the antler. Never saw anything like it and no explanation. Being a taxidermist, I get to see some amazing things with deer that prove how tough an animal they are.

That would explain my late season!  Not a buck and 17 does/antlerless!