huntingson

The bucks around here are still sporting their racks. Is that a sign of good nutrition or is it a non-issue? I would like to think the first, but I am really guessing.

JoeRE

If by good nutrition you mean in an overall sense a winter with plenty of food and little stress, I would agree. With very hard winters (as ours in IA has been) bucks often loose thier antlers in early january, but other years I have seen many racked bucks as late as mid March. The last antlered deer I have seen was Jan 11th this year....and I have seen many deer since then.

I think all else being equal, providing plenty of nutrious food for the deer would make them keep their racks longer....but deep snow/cold temps would make them loose them earlier, regardless of what they have to eat.

MeanV2

I've always been told the more Breeding a Buck does the quicker he loses his rack, which is caused by a drop in testoterone. I've seen some Bucks lose their racks in Jan. and others keep theirs until April. All herein the same area, and Food is rarely a problem here, even with all the Deer we have.

Dan

huntingson

We have had a colder winter than normal, but certainly not as cold as many states do regularly. Although, we did have a blizzard on Saturday![:@]

Is anyone else stillseeing racked bucks?

MeanV2

I'll always see one or 2 even in April.

Dan

wingchaser_labs

Yes stress and food is a huge factor in it. In WI we were seein bucks dropping horns in areas of low food value before x-mas yet we are still seeing afew bucks in good food areas still holding their horns right now. Alot of deer here dropped in early- mid January cuz of the colder than usual winter and high snow levels with hard ice layers in it. WCL

englum_06

Not seeing racked bucks, but been out TONS of times and not found a shed yet...Im gettin kinda...upset...