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Post by billyboy on Jan 17, 2023 20:13:35 GMT -5
When do your Bucks Shed their Antlers? Hunted the Last Day (Jan. 15th) of Nebraska's Seasons Choice Antlerless Season. I found (2) Nice Sheds & Hunting Partner watched one Drop on Jan. 7th! This is WAY EARLIER than Normal for the Area. I Managed to get (2) Does the Final Hour of the Season  , Sure Glad Neither were Trophy Bucks for Next Year😅!
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gar
Junior Member

Posts: 83
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Post by gar on Jan 18, 2023 15:19:53 GMT -5
end of Dec. thru march.
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Post by 71yella2 on Jan 18, 2023 22:21:08 GMT -5
South Arkansas here, they have started but there's always some that hang on till end of February,
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Post by gd357 on Jan 19, 2023 5:12:34 GMT -5
Late December to April. This past spring the last day I saw a buck with both sides still attached was April 10. Thats extreme, but seems every year or so I see one like that.
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Post by smokepolehall on Jan 19, 2023 9:59:38 GMT -5
Western Ky. here n 1st week of Jan. they started
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Post by sew on Jan 19, 2023 10:09:46 GMT -5
Here in NE AR, on Monday night, I saw 3 bucks, all with a doe, 8-pt, 6-7 pt and a fork horn. So, not yet. I’ve noticed the the larger racked, older bucks seem to lose theirs first. Bet they stay away from the younger, still antlered bucks. Actually, I believe they go into hiding.
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Post by rickh on Jan 19, 2023 10:26:19 GMT -5
Not an expert but I think it varies a bit from year to year depending on weather and stress. In Iowa right now about half dropped. Have seen some drop in mid-December but January seems to be the month in Iowa. Once in NJ saw a full hard-horned rack in early April.
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Post by dennis on Jan 19, 2023 10:44:17 GMT -5
In Ohio since they stopped early ml season most that I hear of don't shoot anything but does after regular gun season and don't shoot big does in the ml season as a big buck could possibly be mistaken for a doe. I have had someone tell me of shooting alate season buck and have one side of the rack come off when it fell.
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Post by Deputy819 on Jan 19, 2023 14:52:31 GMT -5
Yep. What smokepolehall said. Several years ago I *whacked* a Boone & Crockett doe with my bow in January and when I walked up on her there were 2 bald spots where antlers had recently resided. She was a HE! 😵💫
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Post by mike on Jan 19, 2023 16:08:47 GMT -5
I hunted extreme north-central Missouri December 27 to January 3rd for their muzzleloader season. The outfitter told me the bucks are dropping their horns very early this year. One of the hunters, while I was there, thought they were shooting a large doe, it turned out to be a buck. They were seeing so many single horn and zero horn bucks that the outfitter phoned the remainder of his customers (late season bow hunters) to advise the bucks were going antlerless very quick and offered to allow cancellations on their hunts. I was told the time of antler shedding varies year by year according to several variables, but they thought the very early arctic cold and then another super arctic cold period immediately prior to Christmas caused this year's early drop.
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Post by Ice on Jan 22, 2023 20:42:07 GMT -5
Saw a 140ish 8ptr yesterday in Kingsport, TN on federal property. He was still sporting a very nice set of heavy horns!
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Post by yoderjac on Jan 26, 2023 19:33:38 GMT -5
I think it depends on a lot of factors. I've seen a wide variety in our area. For example, I recall one year after a previous year mast crop failure, guys dragging deer by their antlers and having them pop off near the archery season in mid-November. I think a lot of it has to do with stress. If bucks are rutting hard and bad weather delays recovery, they seem to drop them earlier. When conditions are good and deer are healthy and unstressed, I think they retain them longer.
All my deer, young and old are still holding their antlers here.
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Post by fatfred on Jan 26, 2023 20:46:57 GMT -5
Interesting. I saw a one horned spike across from my driveway tonight. Typically around here, mid - late Dec on the biggest deer and I have seen March on small bucks. My opinion is that the heavy horns and loosening connections make it likely that they can shake them off by accident when shedding water or snow. Lot's of weight and quick movements crack em right off. But, like other have said, they can fall off real early and real late. Health, diet, weather, stress probably plays a factor on an individual basis.
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Post by Sideshow on Jan 27, 2023 23:44:54 GMT -5
Interesting. I saw a one horned spike across from my driveway tonight. Typically around here, mid - late Dec on the biggest deer and I have seen March on small bucks. My opinion is that the heavy horns and loosening connections make it likely that they can shake them off by accident when shedding water or snow. Lot's of weight and quick movements crack em right off. But, like other have said, they can fall off real early and real late. Health, diet, weather, stress probably plays a factor on an individual basis. Yes ive wondered how much diet affects keeping those racks longer or not ?? It can sure affect how they grow !!! On a lease we put out brown mineral licks really early one spring bought from the grain elevator in S. Michigan and hauled them north to our spot . Holy Smokes did that make a Difference on those antlers !!! I was amazed that fall to see 14" & 15" Spikes Even let alone the older deers racks !!! Wow they were far heathier looking Period !!! After we saw that we kept buying them and set them on stumps . Doe always had 2 fawns too after those licks . Perfect for 1 1/2 yr old doe meat production !!! I dont know if they hung on longer or not but it stands to reason they may have if nutrition plays a role .
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Post by Deputy819 on Jan 29, 2023 19:32:04 GMT -5
 Check this out!! I found these TODAY on my property. BOTH antlers dropped by the SAME buck in the SAME place! UNBELIEVABLE!!🤣
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Post by Sideshow on Jan 30, 2023 3:52:15 GMT -5
 Check this out!! I found these TODAY on my property. BOTH antlers dropped by the SAME buck in the SAME place! UNBELIEVABLE!!🤣 Wow he looks to be a Dandy for this next year too !!! Keep them cameras going ..... Believe id put out a couple mineral licks for that dude and make his horns go wild growing . May as well have his coat all shiny pretty too for his hangin on your wall .
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Post by Deputy819 on Jan 30, 2023 13:29:03 GMT -5
Yep, he’ll be a dandy next season! I’ve already put out minerals for them. Hopefully that fella keeps my property within his “home range.” 👍
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Post by sew on Feb 1, 2023 13:57:13 GMT -5
NE Arkansas. Picture out of my kitchen window. I “know” this small buck😊, a 4 pt. Just took this picture, Feb 1. 
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