Something strange

[SS Snuffer]

Just sitting here lookin out picture window with my coffee at the sunrise,west central Minn,waiting for the BIG storm that's forecast. Four deer just came down our gravel road and thru my yard. Spike buck two fawns and a nice eight point. What are they doing wearing antlers this time of year? 15" of snow coming, Lucy better start baking!

[Hud]

I read somewhere, Mid-January if their condition is weaken from the rut, later if they are in good condition.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

[stik&string]

I saw three separate 8 points here in northwest Wisconsin. Had to do a double take on each one

[Pat B]

If there are still does going into heat the dominant bucks will retain their antlers, their testosterone levels are still up. When the testosterone drops, their antlers drop. A few years ago my wife and I were in Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountains in March. All but the two dominant bucks had lost their antlers and those two big boys were chasing a few left over hot does.
 In the last month or so around here we haven't seen any deer movement but yesterday morning I saw 4 large bucks together, none had antlers and on my way to town and back I saw about 8 or 10 different deer, some in groups, some single but all were moving at mid day and none had antlers.

[Jack Denbow]

I was wondering the same thing. I have seen 6 different bucks in my yard since Feb. 22 and the last one this afternoon. I talked to Barry Wensel last weekend at the PBS Gathering and he told me the same thing Pat said above. The 6 bucks ranged from a nice 8pt to a spike. Only one had 1 horn, all the rest had full racks.

[Wudstix]

Interesting!
 

[Wudstix]

I've heard it has to do with the Testosterone level of the deer.
 

[Pat B]

Antler growth and fall is determined by testosterone levels. As long as there is a hot doe in the area the dominant bucks will hold their antlers. They need them for the fight.   

[Wheels2]

In 1985 I missed our antlerless rifle season due to getting married.  The season was extended for one day, and I was home.  I shot a rather large doe that turned out to be a buck that had dropped its antlers. It was second week of December.
Last year I saw a rack buck with antlers in the first week of April.