I know there have been a few posts recently about bucks shedding. I just glassed one of our fields from the truck yesterday evening and saw 2 half rack bucks.

Seems like its quite a bit early this year.

Anyone else noticing this?

It's not early. Some start shedding in early December every year.

Found a shed of a forkhorn last weekend - laying on top of 12" of fresh snow.

Just saw a deer tonight that HAD to of just shed. Thought it was a doe at first glance but after checking it out the body was huge, real thick neck, broad shoulders, basically everything that suggests it is a buck...minus the antlers.

Why does it seem early to me? Normally, we see bucks into mid to late January with racks yet. I'd be half afraid to shoot one now. Thats all I need is to go to grab a big set of horns onlyto have them pop off his head.

I asked the local state game manager that question 3 years ago when I shot an 8 pointer on Dec. 21. By the time I got to it, it was antlerless. It had shed both antlers on its death run. He told me that a high amount of breeding stress will cause bucks to lose their antlers early.