When do your bucks shed?

[longbowben]

Found 4 today.2 last week.

[LKH]

Zbone.  A Buck's testosterone level varies with the time of year.  A drop in testoserone is what causes the antlers to drop.  It's not that his T runs out, it's that his glands reduce production.

Even without antlers they will still breed does.  

Bucks are individuals and their antler drop will vary with the individual.

[ELKDUDE07]

Saw a group of three bucks yesterday, here in southern Indiana that had all of their headgear intact.  I have seen a nice 4x4 mule deer in Colorado that still had his antlers in the first week of May!!

[Zbone]

LKH - I'll totally concur.

Was only debating those that believe the myth (there have been a few through the years) that a buck only has so much spuck, and once he runs out due to breeding (or the other thing...8^)) whether early by doing it a lot or later by not breeding as much just isn’t right.

Guy (certified biologist) just posted a great analogy of this topic over on the other site's wheelie side.

Personally believe it is drop in testosterone; along with health that coincide, but also believe genetics may contribute.

[Kris]

Day length and hormone levels

Why antlers actually shed.  The physiological cue is the male hormone testosterone. The way this works is complicated, but changing day lengths are sensed by the eyes, which send this message, via the optic nerve, to the pineal gland. The pineal gland - a pea-sized organ at the base of the brain - produces many different hormones. One hormone produced is luteinizing hormone, which controls the amount of testosterone produced in the testes.

The antler cycle lags behind the changes in day length because the hormonal changes take time. During fall, decreasing day lengths cause melatonin production to increase, resulting in decreased production of both luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Decreasing testosterone levels then cause the antlers to shed.

Taken from  http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_wds_antler.shtml  :

[Kris]

Also environment and antler cycle
 
A restricted diet has been found to cause bucks to shed their antlers early. It has been suspected that the lack of adequate nutrition somehow affects testosterone output.  Nutritionally-stressed bucks may also grow their antlers and shed their velvet later. Older-aged bucks are thought to shed their antlers earlier than younger bucks. It has also been reported that higher-ranked (more dominant) bucks cast their antlers sooner than lower-ranked bucks.  I have seen small forks and sixes in Wisconsin with their antlers on in April!   The specific date when a buck will shed his antlers may be determined more by his individual antler cycle than any other factor. This cycle is independent of other bucks and is believed to be centered on each animal's birth date.  Although there is no clear evidence that weather directly affects antler shedding, it is likely that severe winters may also cause bucks to shed their antlers earlier than normal because of the nutritional stress this causes.

Taken from     http://www.whitetailfanatic.com/html/rc_wds_antler.shtml     :

[Forrest Creature 1]

Out today to find it a little better day than last week found 9 from this year and 1 stuck in an old round bale of hay from last year. I'll take same pics and get them on sunday. No real big ones yet but still looking.  

[Tree Killer]

I saw about 30 bucks yesterday, and they were all still wearing their antlers with pride. Here's a couple that let me get up close and personal with them.

 

[patvro]

I seen 7 city bucks with horns two days ago in south east michigan but the bucks in mid to late december 250 miles north here in michigan were shed I think it was Dec 13th my friends wife shot a 8 point and it lost both horns before it died they had to go back and find them in the snow.

[Pepper]

Out in the woods today, and my friend found the right side off of a nice 8pt.

[Dirtybird]

Well as of today my friend and I have a total of twenty seven antlers from this year.  I usually don't even look for antlers this early but they seem to shed early this year.

[Allegan Archer]

Good topic.  Lots of good info.

Hoping to do some post season scouting midday today in some thick areas on public land.  Going to keep my eye out for sheds...  hope to find my first one.