Losing Antlers Already?

[1mil-high]

It seems awfully early, but I saw a buck today that had already dropped its antlers. The deer looked normally healthy, and you could see the antler bases but no antlers. In speaking with a local CO, he stated that someone within the last week had shot a mature buck that had already dropped its antlers as well.

Doesn't it seem pretty early still? I have never even looked for sheds until at least the end of January in previous years.

 

[Porter]

Every now and then you get some that drop early, last year a friend of mine shot what he thought was a doe in muzzle loader season that turned out to be a buck that had shed.

 

[Hookeye]

Stressed animals will drop them early.
My coworker had a 6 pt facing away one MZ season. He aimed at the base of the skull and fired.
Walking up it looked like he shot a doe (antlers close by, but detached).

Found a slug in it from reg gun season when butchering. Was healing OK.

 

[singlestacksig]

yes, & it is legal to take them in Antler less season if your county has one..

 

[MRP2003]

Saw a guy back in PA that had a buck that dropped both after he shot it. That was on November 30th. The first he said dropped when he shot the deer as it took off and hit one against a tree. The other fell off while dragging the deer out when it was 15 feet from his truck.

 

[trophy hunter]

i`ve found them on dec. 10th.. not too early..

 

[1mil-high]

Saw a guy back in PA that had a buck that dropped both after he shot it. That was on November 30th. The first he said dropped when he shot the deer as it took off and hit one against a tree. The other fell off while dragging the deer out when it was 15 feet from his truck.

So do he check it in as antlered or antlerless? haha

 

[cschwanz]

Depending on doe numbers, stress, etc its about that time. I won't start to look for sheds for awhile yet, unless I start to see a lot of trailcam evidence of them dropping. Its usually a bit later where we are anyway. Had a trail cam picture of a buck who still had headgear first week of March last year. Seemed awfully late to me

 

[MRP2003]

Had to check it in as antlered. This year, the opening week was antlered only.

 

[NKBJ]

Been having up to ten in the back yard.
Aint seen the first antler.

 

[AtTheMurph]

Found a shed a couple weeks ago pheasant hunting in Benton Co.

 

[ScouT6a]

I shot what I thought was a REAL nice doe this evening, that turned out to be a buck that had shed. There was still a little mucus and dried blood around the bases. He must have dropped them today or last night.