Understanding Antler Reproduction.....

[Richie]

Two weeks ago I went out for a two day shed hunt trip. In the same unit i hiked in three different areas. One spot gave me shed hunting success. One showed elk in early growth. One showed me elk that were still packing.

 

Yesterday I checked a trail camera in a completely different unit and it was showing coues still packing.

 

So my recent questions..Do you guys have the same experience? Does the stage of antler growth have any direct relations to other factors in that area? or is there no rhyme or reason?

[tjhunt2]

Richie, them are some good pictures. That coues is a no brainer to shoot. Congratulations on your very first shed hunting trip and thanks for sharing.

 

TJ

[Becker]

If you look close that's actually two different Coues. Both are nice bucks.

 

Elk and Coues shed at different times of the year? Not exactly sure what your question is geared around in that aspect.

 

In a given herd usually the older age class animals shed first. With young animals carrying antlers for a lot longer. Sometimes it strictly depends on the exact animal. Some shed early while some do late. Also generally speaking the farther north you go the earlier they shed. For instance the mule deer on the strip start rutting in mid November and shed earlier than the mule deer in southern Arizona that don't rut until mid to end December into January.

 

Coues tend to shed end of April and throughout may.

[WallHanger]

If you look close that's actually two different Coues. Both are nice bucks.

Elk and Coues shed at different times of the year? Not exactly sure what your question is geared around in that aspect.

In a given herd usually the older age class animals shed first. With young animals carrying antlers for a lot longer. Sometimes it strictly depends on the exact animal. Some shed early while some do late. Also generally speaking the farther north you go the earlier they shed. For instance the mule deer on the strip start rutting in mid November and shed earlier than the mule deer in southern Arizona that don't rut until mid to end December into January.

Coues tend to shed end of April and throughout may.

+1!, and good eye on those bucks! I see the difference now..

[Richie]

thanks for the info. yes they are two different bucks the biggest one passed first then the second one and then a spike which i didn't post pics of. i just always thought that by may, deer would of dropped already

[rancilio]

We've had coues down south in June still wearing racks. So far this year, I haven't seen a buck that has shed already.

[PRDATR]

I saw one a couple of years ago up east of Payson that had head gear in June.