Buck out of velvet

[jonsimoneau]

While scouting this afternoon I saw a 2 year old buck that had shed its velvet. He had blood all over his antlers. That is the earliest I have ever seen a buck shed. He was in a bachelor group with four other bucks that all still had velvet. It's getting close guys!

[Shedrock]

I saw two mulie bucks today up close and personal. A 3X3 still full velvet, and a 3X4 stripped clean. I thought it is a bit early as well.

Yup, it is close, season starts Saturday.  

[Killdeer]

The velvet gloves are off...

Killdeer

[KentuckyTJ]

Yep they have started here also. It is early, we usually don't see this for another 2-3 weeks.

[kbetts]

On the trail cam thread I posted a pic of a big six.  After looking at it with a buddy last night he said he was out of velvet.  Never even noticed it.

[longbowben]

Two weeks ago we had 1 good buck clean. Never saw one clean that early.

[Whip]

This guy was cleaned up on the 20th.  I agree, that seems early!
 

[Longbowlogan]

I saw 2 bucks out of velvet on sunday, one was a 145-150'' mainframe 8pt with a double brow and a 6'' droptine. The other buck was really wide but couldn't tell how many points he was!!

[meathead]

I got a trailcam pic of four buck last week and one was shedding velvet.  He was the smallest of the four.

[wapiti792]

WOW! That seems early but I guess everything is early. 75% of our corn is out...maybe the critters know something we don't like. Like we are about to have a real winter this go round.

[JimB]

The drought seems to have changed things a lot here.I haven't seen any deer out of velvet yet but wouldn't doubt if it happens early.

Choke cherries and service berries have ripened 2 to 4 weeks early and a few antelope bucks are exhibiting the first signs of rutting behavior,about 2 weeks early.

The first elk out of velvet was Aug 12th,possibly about a week early.

[skilonbw]

Not only are some of the elk out of velvet here in CO but some are bugling and gathering herds already.

[Brock]

our season opens 15 August....one of the 8 points I am following was out of velvet at least by 9 August though every other buck is still in velvet.

as of this weekend all other bucks seen on camera over past 2 weeks are also still in velvet....this buck is already following does and hanging with them day and night.  He has not started scraping yet as I have a stand near his favorite haunt but should be matter of time...hahaha

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Checked 11 cams the last 3 days, 44 different bucks only one little buck starting to shed on his tines.

Right on time here compared to the last 6 years of watching them on cams. I wondered if the drought would mess with them but it hasen't.

Looking forward to seeing them out of velvet next week.

Tracy

[jonsimoneau]

I don't believe the drought has anything to do with them shedding velvet. I think some bucks shed earlier or later than other bucks. It just so happened that this was the earliest I have ever witnessed.

[skilonbw]

I don't know it would seem to me if they are not getting enough nourishment due to drought that antlers stop growing and then they are finishing early. After all out here in CO a lot of us are seeing elk bulls showing signs of rut now which is unusual they usually show more like the second or third week of Sept. as the prime.