Very rare. Most bucks shed around the beginning of Feb. I have routinely seen bucks with racks in early March. Deer hunting in PA ends the middle of January. The number of bucks that shed in time to be taken as antlerless would be even less significant than the occasional forkie taken by a junior hunter.

You really need to do a lot more reading about the history of our herd and our harvests. before AR, 2-3 % of the anterless harvest were adult buck that had lost their rack If we use the average of 2.5% and apply it to an anterless harvest of 325K ,that equals 8K adult buck harvested as anterless deer. If ,due to AR ,that percentage increased by 1%, then we would harvest 11.4 K adult buck as anterless deer.

YADA YADA YADA..... All unsubstantiated conjecture...."IF"...
By the time bucks shed their horns the masses have quit chasing. Yes, some get taken but I doubt your numbers. Show me recent figures from actual counts to back this up. Do not show me stats from South Dakota or Saskatchewan either. PA evidence please!

You are the one that is challenging the stats I provided. So ,for a change, why don't you provide the stats that show that I am wrong. There are endless stories of hunters harvesting a buck and having one or more anterless drop off when they are hit or while dragging. It is a common occurance as is broken racks due to sparring.

Why do you think the PGC hasn't provided recent stats on the number of adult buck harvested as anterless deer. do you think it might be that the percentage has increased due to the concurrent seasons, and rifles or shotguns permitted in the late season in 5C, or 2B, plus the facts that more buck are protected by AR?

I just saw a BB brought in to our local country deer processor. I was there to pick up some scraps for trapping bait and after dark a guy brought him in for processing. Nice deer, didn't bother anyone there that he is hitting the ziplocks.


On another note, two years ago our camp had to pitch in and do a search of a set of forks. A guy shot one and started dragging it in a few inches of snow, when he go's 200 yds he looks back and they are gone! We pitched in and kicked the snow back down the trail and found both of them. That was the in the first week of buck season.
Antlers do drop before we are done with hunting. Not the majority, but as was alerady posted a percentage of them do.

and with our emphasis on increasing doe kill in pa that means we take more of them with the antlerless harvest. Its just a fact of life, we have done it for a long time in Pa. Even back before Pa developed an antler fetish.

Those are two, nice, little, warm anecdotes you recite there!

I have hunted 26 years in PA
My older bro 30 years in PA
My younger bro 21 Years in PA
My Pop, 52 years in PA

None of us has ever seen a buck alive or dead that shed in time for hunting season. We have never known anyone that got a deer that shed in time for hunting season. When we shot a buck, even a thin little forkie years ago, we tied the rope to its horns or just dragged it BY the horns the mile that we walk in and out. Never had one even loosen any. We have seen bucks with one side BUSTED at the pedicel, but never shed in time for season. ......HOGWASH!
I'm sure it happens, but ever so rarely folks, please!!!!

Here is another nice little anecdote to add to the list.Two years ago we shot a Y buck the first day and both antlers came off during a 100 yd. drag. besides , you should know by now that I don't post facts like that without a reference . Although the source may be dated , there is no reason why it wouldn't apply to todays anterless harvests.

Just for you, I'll see if I can come up with a link to the PGN's article that states that 2-3% of the anterless harvest were adult buck that had lost their racks. And, as I recall it was before we had the late ML, late anterless rifle and late archery season.

Here is the link ,for your reading pleasure and please note that the total of adult buck in the naterless harvest was 4% , not the 2-3% I reported.

http://www.fortgrundsow.com/WhyCheckDeer4.jpg

HOLY CRAP!
Where did you dig that up? The font is so old on that article it should be considered heiroglyphic.....
If you hunted as much as you read about the hunting stats, you should have no problem getting your buck....No offense, you are well read!

I was rummaging around in my memory and I do recall one year there was an abundance of racks falling off during buck season and the biologists were scrambling to come up with a cause. The hunting public was panicking with reason scenarios. I did not witness any of this, just read or heard about it, I don't recall which. I acknowledged that it does happen, some years alot I guess, some years hardly at all.

hehehe.... no one you know ever heard of deer shedding thier racks early? what is early? You think because you lead a sheltered life and never have seen it that it never happens? Bwwwahhhahahahahaaaaa.


Good one.

Just can't face up to the fact you were not aware of all the issues revolving around a heavier antlerless harvest. And thanks goodness dead deer is here to educate you. And he does a good job, I commend him for taking the time with our slower learners.

Next time your rummaging around in your memory, maybe you can remember that Pa has always had mature bucks shed thier antlers before the season is over. But of course deaddeer aleady pointed that out, even before your snotty reply to me.

...and so end'th the lesson.

Still rare....

As Far as a runny nose reply, you have given your share, and mine wasn't so snotty, you just carry a sensitive chip. I said that no one I ever knew or me ever saw this, and that represents a whole load of years a huntin'. If you remember correctly, deadderr discounts anectdotes as insignificant and as such should be dismissed. So, if people of my opinion cannot recite any, neither can you two cohorts. Mon bring it!