RE: Broken Antlers?
In central NY, last winter was very near a record for snowfall. Many of the deer that made it through sported smaller, thinner, and likely weaker racks as a result this year. This was the case in my area, maybe your's too. If the poulation is high due to protection where you shed hunt, I'm sure there is increased fighting between male deer, combine that with weak racks, and you get broken ones in higher frequency.