Desert deer starting to drop antlers?

[ylclaret]

I'm new to the idea of shed hunting and have been wondering when the deer down here in the desert start dropping antlers. Well this morning on my way in to work I spotted some mule deer on the hillside. I had my bino's in the car so I stopped for a closer look and there was one small 3x buck that was only packing half his head gear. So I guess it's about that time huh?

[SunDevil]

do MD drop sooner than WT? down south, we usually see WT bucks running around with head gear into May.

[JLW]

this article tells it better than I can, but basically when there testosterone levels drop the process starts.

some can drop earlier than others do to some bucks ( the ones I've seen are usually bigger more mature bucks ) still rutting the does that didn't breed when they go into heat again. ( I think I read somewhere the younger bucks don't know how to pace themselves during the rut and there process is shorter.) I've seen coues deer still packing in late may early june and I have found coues sheds in early april.

http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/deer-shed-hunting/how-do-bucks-shed-their-antlers

 

James

[HUNTnTAT2]

Was out in 20a-c saw 6 different bucks all with headgear

[HUNTnTAT2]

.

[jim]

I use to start picking up average size brown muleys the second week of April in upper 27. We would find the big stuff a couple weeks ealier.

[wildwoody]

i'd say mid april, and ya they were does

[ready2hunt]

the WT on my cameras usually have antlers until late march-early april.

[capoeirajosh]

/>the WT on my cameras usually have antlers until late may-early april.

Do you mean late March, early April? Just curious. New to shed hunting as well. :-)

[ready2hunt]

Haha yes that's what I meant. I had to change that typo. Interestingly the older mature bucks have always dropped their antlers first. Again that's just on my cameras but I do find that interesting

[Becker]

Was out a week and a half ago. Driving around with some buddies for a BIG RABBIT Competition and we saw a mule deer buck bedded just off the road we were on. He only had his left antler. After the deer got up and disappeared over the hill we walked up there to see if that antler was there. Didn't find it but 20 yards down the hill where he ran that left antler that was on his head was laying on the ground!!!!!! Almost got to see one fall off!

[JLW]

Was out a week and a half ago. Driving around with some buddies for a BIG RABBIT Competition and we saw a mule deer buck bedded just off the road we were on. He only had his left antler. After the deer got up and disappeared over the hill we walked up there to see if that antler was there. Didn't find it but 20 yards down the hill where he ran that left antler that was on his head was laying on the ground!!!!!! Almost got to see one fall off!

that's awesome!

post up a pic!!!

 

James

[capoeirajosh]

+1 JLW!

[25-06]

Was out a week and a half ago. Driving around with some buddies for a BIG RABBIT Competition and we saw a mule deer buck bedded just off the road we were on. He only had his left antler. After the deer got up and disappeared over the hill we walked up there to see if that antler was there. Didn't find it but 20 yards down the hill where he ran that left antler that was on his head was laying on the ground!!!!!! Almost got to see one fall off!

Devin, I bet that other antler is not far from where he was bedded.

[cosninocanines]

Bumped up a buck (WT) this morning, I know it was a buck cause it still had nice antler material on it's head. He may be different since he was all alone.