Should a buck have a rack now?
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
sledboy482
Member
John,
A lot of that depends on the winter. In a harsh winter they will shed a little sooner. He will probably drop those in the next couple weeks. Usually in late jan to early Feb they are bald.
A lot of that depends on the winter. In a harsh winter they will shed a little sooner. He will probably drop those in the next couple weeks. Usually in late jan to early Feb they are bald.
mrsrunningbear
Active member
Not unusual, they shed them between January and April
Grant Hoar
New member
John,
Not unusual at all.
I have found fresh shed antlers on New Years Eve, and have also seen bucks that still have their racks into mid-March
Not unusual at all.
I have found fresh shed antlers on New Years Eve, and have also seen bucks that still have their racks into mid-March
anonomoose
New member
Actually it has a lot to do with genetics....if daddy held antlers late in the year, son will likely too.
However as pointed out, sick, malnurished deer or stress on them early can bring early drop too.
However as pointed out, sick, malnurished deer or stress on them early can bring early drop too.
whitehorse
Member
I read an article that stated "in their reasearch" that a buck that shed, say Jan. 15th his first year will shed 5 days either side of that date for the rest of his life....unless serious malnutrition.
I mentioned this to a guy that raises deer ( for 15 yrs +) and he stated that is bascially true. He keeps track of all his bucks and when they shed and also when certain does come into estrus for his deer farm records.
I on my farm I do not have any pictures of a shed bucks yet...so I'm keeping cameras out (haven't checked them for 2 weeks though) but a buddy of mine has inlaws in the Sayner area and they stated all their deer feeder bucks have shed out as of last week....same thing happened last year ( timing of shedding bucks at their feeder)....I would think what anonomoose stated, genetics play a part in it. I don't believe it has anything to do with the does estrus cycle.
Shed hunting is a great part of late winter and spring activites.
I mentioned this to a guy that raises deer ( for 15 yrs +) and he stated that is bascially true. He keeps track of all his bucks and when they shed and also when certain does come into estrus for his deer farm records.
I on my farm I do not have any pictures of a shed bucks yet...so I'm keeping cameras out (haven't checked them for 2 weeks though) but a buddy of mine has inlaws in the Sayner area and they stated all their deer feeder bucks have shed out as of last week....same thing happened last year ( timing of shedding bucks at their feeder)....I would think what anonomoose stated, genetics play a part in it. I don't believe it has anything to do with the does estrus cycle.
Shed hunting is a great part of late winter and spring activites.
catdog
Member
After the rut, the hormone testosterone begins to decrease and when it drops to a certain level, antlers will shed. Since antlers shed at different times in certain areas and in certain years, something causes the testosterone levels to vary from area to area and winter to winter. Thus, the real question is what causes the testosterone levels to drop to the required level?
We know that testosterone and mating are related, so high numbers of does could lead to late shedding of antlers. Here is how that works. Testosterone in bucks stays high when they chase estrus does. Does will only come into estrus if they have not mated, so when you have large numbers of does, all do not get bred in November. When that occurs, we’ll have hot does popping up in mid December, and rutting bucks will be chasing. The more does not bred, the later antlers drop and once most does are mated, the buck’s testosterone levels drop and so does his antlers.
We know that testosterone and mating are related, so high numbers of does could lead to late shedding of antlers. Here is how that works. Testosterone in bucks stays high when they chase estrus does. Does will only come into estrus if they have not mated, so when you have large numbers of does, all do not get bred in November. When that occurs, we’ll have hot does popping up in mid December, and rutting bucks will be chasing. The more does not bred, the later antlers drop and once most does are mated, the buck’s testosterone levels drop and so does his antlers.
jbsugarbrown
New member
frnash---Yes, and Josh Stein rocks too! Very nice guy, met him in 2009 during the same trip that we made up to Lac La Belle to meet John at his bartending fundraiser. Fun to see not only the deer, but also lots of other interesting wildlife.