Thanks Bill,
Must be nice having some deer in your pen all the time to study. I would never get any work done though if I had some too. I would be fixated on them all day every day. I used to visit a deer pen at Lantz Corners, PA many years ago and had a hard time walking away. It's a wonder I didn't end up sleeping there beside the fence.
I never could make any success out of shed hunting.
Thanks for the insight.

I would expect a difference in shed trends between wild and pen deer.

Wild bucks shed based on a multitude of factors. One is most certainly as Bill described, the stress of the winter, and rut. D & DH had a nice article (either Ozoga, or Alsheimer, 2004I believe) stating that bucks which are active during the rut, and those stressed through winter will drop earlier than those who are not active in the rut, and are not stressed by winter. If I remember correctly it had to do with the relative rate of hormones being reduced or increased within the buck's system.

I can certainly see how photo plays a role as well. It only makes sense that the same guiding principles in fur/coat growth has a similar effect on antler shedding.

Individual characteristics are a neat topic. It'd be informative to have a buck in the wild studied, and then put in captive pens to compare differences, and vice versa. That info could be of use to help clarify the process and timing more accurately.

I get into a delicate situation with things like this, as I dont mean to sound disrespectful, or full of myself...I respect Ozoga, and have known Charlie for years, I remember where he used to photograph his deer before he had his own. But, I have to go with what I see, too, no offense to the experts. Whether its a captive herd in Bath NY, the Cusino Enclosure in Mich or my pens, or all the wild deer we also watch, Im just saying what I see. I have picked up somewhere near 500 sheds in my travels. Most of the statements we all have posted here in this thread ARE accurate to some degree. The only thing Im saying is this, its just not always that way. Throw out stats, studies, and others opinion...really. I kiddingly say "Hormones, shmornomes!" I have bucks the do my breeding that carried antlers longer than bucks of equal age, held back. In the wild we watch a few that defy "the rules" too.

If there IS one solid rule, like Ive said, it seems to be the one about stressed/injured deer shedding earlier. Now, HOW early? Thats another debate! Remember stories of locked bucks found dead, and upon picking up the skulls, one antler will shed off the buck that looked like it was alive longer? Stuff like that is worth remembering...

I think we all want there to be more clear rules to define when and where those antlers will be. I read the same stories you guys do about checking fence because they get jarred "loose", etc. I watch deer spar, or shake their heads, and not shed. Later that day there they stand, minus an antler that was obviously solid just a whilebefore! Think of it THIS way, guys...these contradictions to the rules, that Im suggesting, will give you some leeway when you come home empty from time to time!

Heres my "unofficial" theory for sheds this year. If your area is set up like my region is, youll probably see lots of guys finding one or two, etc, but not too many guys picking up a ton of them. They are spread out a bit more this season, due in part to less snowpack and a more mild winter. If food sources are spread out, so too will be those deer...and those sheds. Now, should I mention how many times Ive found where fox and coyotes have carried off sheds to other areas? I know, "Oh no, not MORE variables!"

I agree with Phade, this is a neat topic.

[ol][*]Heres my "unofficial" theory for sheds this year. If your area is set up like my region is, youll probably see lots of guys finding one or two, etc, but not too many guys picking up a ton of them. They are spread out a bit more this season, due in part to less snowpack and a more mild winter. If food sources are spread out, so too will be those deer...and those sheds.
[hr]
[/ol]Ditto