I am trying to plan a weekend to go up and do some shed hunting but can't remember when the antlers drop around the Bancroft area. Is it about the New Years weekend? It would be nice if it were a long weekend to do so.
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I am trying to plan a weekend to go up and do some shed hunting but can't remember when the antlers drop around the Bancroft area. Is it about the New Years weekend? It would be nice if it were a long weekend to do so.
Because the weather has the season later than usual,it may be early into Feb before they start to drop.
Found two different sheds Jan 4th last year at a feeder, that came off the night before (not my feeder) and a buddy pulled the antlers off a small buck he shot on the 15th of dec as well. I'm not sure how the weather had an effect on the rut but if that's the case some would probably drop later. I'm am south of Bancroft.
Well down in my neck of the woods the grass is still green & deer are still feeding in the fields. If snow comes later the sheds will follow later as well. Hopefully the deer population will be spared from our last two early & deep snow winters. We had over 12" by early November in 2014 & it kept coming weekly. This did a number on our turkey population as well.
Weather and antler drop are not related.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Antler drop is caused by a drop in testosterone level.
The drop in testosterone level is caused for the most part by photoperiod, but also (somewhat) by the bucks physical condition.
My buddy shot this buck on Dec 19th a few years back and he was beat up all over from the rut and that was likely why he dropped early.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...033_100759.jpg
Pretty sure it was this same big boy that I was playing peek a boo with just 2 weeks earlier. You cant see in the pic but he was missing fur on many parts of his body as well.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...r/101_2476.jpg
I have also seen bucks still carry headgear into March.
I've been tagged out since the middle of October so I've been mostly partridge hunting. But I've found 2 sheds in the last 2 weeks from last year. Not in the best shape, but i'll take em!
A buddy got a buck last week up in 7b that had dropped already. I've seen bucks down here in the south with their headgear still attached in April.
Moose should be dropping soon. The joys of no snow means you can search for fresh and old sheds. The snow will come though! Why I like to keep trail cams up year round. You know exactly when they are dropping and can get out there.