Shed when

[Jeremy_84]

Just wondering if there is a difference as to when a buck may lose its antlers. Does it make a difference how old or the size of the antlers. Do bigger bucks lose there's first or last. Or is there any distinction at all? A few thoughts I've had while seeing pics of deer still sporting there racks.

[Bake]

They (biologists) aren't sure what determines antler drop in a particular buck. Date of birth, genetics? They do know that a buck will shed at about the same time each year. He may also carry one antler for up to three days. I knew a buck who carried his until the third week in April. I watched him for three years. My son killed him when he was 4 1/2. My parents saw a big buck carrying his in April years ago in Meigs County.

[bowhunter1023]

Decreases in testosterone levels trigger the bucks to shed their antlers. One well know researcher, Dr. Charles Aslheimer, documenting one buck that shed his antlers within hours of the same time each year. I have also seen bucks hold onto one side for much longer than 3 days. Generally it will not be that long, Alsheimer also wrote that he has seen them go 10-14 days with one side attached.

There is still a good bit of mystery surrounding the antler shedding process, but they do know that the testosterone levels are the major factor in the shedding process. One can assume that the longer a buck holds on to them, the more testosterone he has. An imbalanced herd with several young does popping into estrous in January and even February, can string a buck out and cause him to hold them longer.

[hntwhitetail]

Decreases in testosterone levels trigger the bucks to shed their antlers. One well know researcher, Dr. Charles Aslheimer, documenting one buck that shed his antlers within hours of the same time each year. I have also seen bucks hold onto one side for much longer than 3 days. Generally it will not be that long, Alsheimer also wrote that he has seen them go 10-14 days with one side attached.

There is still a good bit of mystery surrounding the antler shedding process, but they do know that the testosterone levels are the major factor in the shedding process. One can assume that the longer a buck holds on to them, the more testosterone he has. An imbalanced herd with several young does popping into estrous in January and even February, can string a buck out and cause him to hold them longer.


ditto

[uglykat26]

my gramma has pics of one in june with hard horn , when i go see here ill see if i can bring it back with me