When sheds drop

[bearboy]

It has intrigued me for years as to why deer drop their antlers at different times??? Do larger or smaller drop first, w/t or mulies, does the amount of sun or feed dictate, why 1 then the other 3 days later. The reason I ask this Question is that last year all the deer in a 250 mile radius had dropped by feb 11 (I wrote it down). Last night I seen 5 large wt bucks and several dinks (small ones) only 1 had 1 horn 2 days prior I seen a monster mulie (170+) and a spike that both had horns, any ideas???

Brent

 

[Tsmola]

as far as I can tell from reading hundreds of posts on this subject on the net and dozens of magazines, there is no one answer for it. I've heard bigger bucks drop first after being worn down from the rut, but I've seen and heard of many exceptions to this. We've found forkhorn sheds, then my uncle would find a nice large 4 point or something a few weeks later. It's a mystery that has yet to be solved I guess.

 

[B&CMulies]

I am no expert on the topic but like to think I know what I am talking about so here is what I know. The bigger bucks will tend to drop sooner than the small bucks. This is becasue they are more mature animals and their life patterns are set. The weather also has some thing to do with it. If you have a year with cold weather the deer will drop allot sooner, I don't know why but it's true if you watch from year to year. You are right deer usually drop both sides within a day and some times within hours of each other which I think is just amazing. I watched a buck this year that had one side for 10 days, which I think is very uncommon.

 

[shedhunternb]

I,ve always thought that older mature bucks drop there antlers first. This year I found a set off a mature buck on Jan 6. There was a small 6 point around the bird feeder and he carried his until the end of Feb. I think it varies across the country, from what I,ve read on this site.

 

[fossilman]

I've also noticed around here,that the left antler shedd's first on all of the deer.
Anyone else been seeing that?

 

[bearboy]

I was shed hunting today about 50miles from where I was 2days ago, I saw in excess of 500 wt only 1 with any bone on his head. The 8 bucks I seen on thursday were all in the 135 to 160 range. The single horn was around 150. This is why I wonder about size being a critical factor????

 

[deershed]

Check this out.
http://www.kerrlake.com/deer/antler.html

 

[Dan Moss]

Interesting article. My buddies and I have had numerous discusions on the antler topic each and everytime we are out shed hunting. The above post are some of the same questions that arise. We have been in areas that it seems all that we find are left side antlers. Then this year we have found more matching sets than in the past years. Yet we have found antlers from small forkies and 10min. later we see a big 4x4 still packing head gear. Maybe that is the theory of mal-nutrition. I have also seen those on horn critters running around and look every trip I go for the either side from that buck and never find either. I guess these conversations is what brings all of us outdoor nuts to the outdoors. We are always in pursuit of something alive to harvest or in looking for something fallen from the head of something living.

 

[las]

Bearboy - I've fished up by Lake Tobin and am wondering if you are close by?(fishing was outstanding!!!!!) I agree with what people have said above - also; the bigger bucks tend to do most of the breeding and testosterone levels get messed up, so the bigger deer tend to drop antlers first. In my parts of southern Mn, I've seen several smaller bucks sporting antlers this past week but have not seen a trophy buck since early February. I'm also curious about a 250 mile radius- thats 250 miles in every direction from your house = lot of area. Canada is open country and miles can be covered quickly, just wondering if you are that serious about hunting or maybe you guide? You're probably better than me in pin-pointing deer; I was watching 10 deer from the beginning of January to middle of February (9 does and fawns plus 120-130 class 10pt) On January 15th, I seen 10 antlerless deer in same field (assumed buck lost his antlers). I searched that 1 section of woods and farmland for 6 hours without a horn. On the 18th 10 deer were back in the field (9 does and fawns plus 120-130 class 10pt)

 

[TJF]

I've gotten into a few debates with the photoperiodism fans on shedding. I think it doesn't play much of a part in the decreasing daylight hour myth. Last time I checked most of our bucks start dropping after the shortest day of the year when daylight hours are increasing. Photoperiodism does play a major role in new antler growth, velvet shedding and the main rut. These 3 things need to be keep on track for deer to benefit the most in terms of specie survival. The " majority ' of fawns need to be born during the best possible period. Photoperiodism accomplishes that.

Shedding antlers is not as critical compared to the 3 things listed above!! Our bucks can start dropping as early as mid December here in hard winters and yet in mild winters it is not uncommon to see a few bucks carrying into April. Stress or the lack of stress seems to play the biggest role when a buck sheds in my area.

As long as doe fawns come into heat, there will be racked bucks for breeding. I have seen bucks chasing doe fawns into March in very mild winters here. I have found new born fawns in August of the following summer. Breeding season can is is extended in mild winters here. From what I have read, once a buck sheds he becomes sterile. If that is true, it would explain why bucks will carry longer in a mild winter versus a normal or extreme one. The breeding season does seem to play a role in shedding. Stress or lack of stress of winter determines the length of breeding season here.

The myth that bucks have a shorter time window to shed the farther north you go from the equater is a farse if talking photoperiodism. The farther north you go from the equator, the more extreme winters are in a normal year. Northern deer will be stressed more on account of it.

Comparing a pen raised buck to a wild one is also mis-leading. Pen raised deer do not live in an ever changing enviroment in terms of year to year or day to day as wild deer do. They are not hunted, they don't compete for breeding, they don't compete for food in winter nor do they have to find food. Their enviroment is pampered and sheltered!! The only " stress " they endure is lifting an artificiallly enhanced bullwinkle rack in the protein enriched feed bucket.

There is only one given which no one can agrue when talking about the why and when a bucks sheds his antler... He will shed them before new antler growth begins.

Wait there are 2 givens... We will find them or wear out boots trying!!

Tim

 

[bearboy]

Thanks Deershed for the artical it held alot of good theories and each I'm sure can play a differnt role on individual deer let alone in different areas. I think the main factor in our area is that many crops did not get taken off in the fall thus an abundance of high quality feed. Nice to know they made it through the winter and gives you something to look forward to this fall Good luck in your shed hunting

Brent

 

[bearboy]

las, Tobin Lake is where the world record walleye was caught, We hunt along Codette Lake,the only difference in the 2 lakes is one is on the west side of the damn at Nipawin the other is on the east side of the damn at Nipawin. Both are fed by the same river. I wish I was a guide, that would be my ultimate dream,however, it is tough to have a family with that type of job as you are away all the time. 250 mile radious is my sales route that I cover every 2 weeks, Last year I put on 78000 km (45-50000) miles. In the flat open country of Southern Sask where you can watch your dog run away for 3 days it is quite easy to spot Deer against the snow, generally at this time of year they are in large herds. I carry my binocs in the truck and stop when I see some, gets most of my scouting done ahead of time .

BRENT

 

[fossilman]

Up here in the Dakota's,it seems the small ones drop first than the big boys follow a couple weeks later........

 

[bearboy]

Went for a drive yestereday, not a deer to be found with any horns.

 

[las]

Bearboy, great stuff man! Good luck this next season and hope things go well for you! I'm curious about bear hunting? Obviously, with the name bearboy- you venture into some bear hunts. Are there any quality hunts a man from the lower 48 can get involved in? At what expense? I got by cheap last year for a northern Minnesota bear hunt = $300, but our group was 2 for 5. Both bears were 210 lbs or less. I sat for nearly 36 hours (4.5 days) and seen one owl, two chipmunks, and 967,434,234,323,232 rain drops. Many of the hunters headed to the drinking holes but I figured I was there to hunt = so I hunted through the rain. I have never seen a bear close range in the 'true' wild and am anxious to do so. Any info is appreciated! Thanks again. Las.

 

[bearboy]

Las, Ususally our hunting trip costs about 200 -300 depending on how many people come, and how thirsty we are. The biggest cost is driving up north to bait, it is about 6 hours one way so usually we drive up early in the am bait all day then come home. A 45 gal drum will usually last the week, then we hunt the following weekend. Last year we got 2 bears for 2 people hunting. Mine was only around 200 lbs or so but was a gorgeous blond bear with coon eyes the other one ws around 350 as a dark chocolate. We got both bears on the last night. We had 8 baits out and they were all getting hit-so lotsa bears. You said you sat for 36 hours???? Do you hunt during the day? or morning and night we generally just hunt in the evenings. This way oyu get lotsa relaxing time in!!! Aguided hunt would probably be about $ 1500?? The success rate would be 100% though

Brent