Ron,
Went shed hunting Tues afternoon in Thompsonville(Canes/Maloney landing). Found 1/2 a spike! Saw 7 deer on farm but no racks. I think one of those was a shed buck. Guess if your seeing racks around DAFB I better wait 2-3 more weeks.

Al, we farm the Ted Harvey F&W tract, thats where we were...on Kitts Hummock Road just past the FOP lodge....

Ron - I know exactly where you were buddy. Hunted Ted Harvey for many years.Took couple nice bucks outa there. Some real monsters hiding in those marshes that get shot every 2-3 years. Haven't hunted there since I got the farm down in Thompsonville 7 yrs ago.

I know this is just captive raised whitetails in this instance I speak of, but...I have found that many of my bucks shed literally the same day each year. Once theyre mature, it seems like some shed every say, February 20th, two or three years in a row, regardless of weather, what the other bucks did, etc. Also, some of my bucks are already showing a good 3/4 of an inch of new growth, too. Like PA trophyman said, it depends on the buck.

Ron if I make my move to Del at the end of the year you got a place for me to bowhunt .

The latest I can remember seeing a rack was 1st week in March 2001. It was a Piebald about 400 yrds. Here it is mid March and the racks are still holding on! There's always something new to learn in here.

The latest I ever saw personally was April 11th, although I was told of one seen in turkey season in May once. It was relaible, but I still had to doubt...sorry! I own a skull with antlers that grew to incapsulate a previous antler on each side. Theres one that never shed that year, and grew a second set around it!

Bill,

My dad and I saw a hard antler 8-pt. on May 20 while turkey hunting back in 1997 or 1998. I couldn't believe it...we saw the same buck around the end of April in a field about 1/2 mile from there. It was a really unusual sighting for sure. I watched him through my binocs and he looked to be a 2.5 yr. old and although he appeared healthy enough, I believe that something must of been physiologically wrong with him and he probably never shed. Several years prior to this sighting, my dad had a little 6-pt come walking up to within several feet of him while turkey hunting during opening week of season. I heard from a couple of friends that they saw 4 different mature bucks and a yearling 6-pt (different locations) that were still packing antlers when they saw them 2 weeks ago. I can't wait to get out a look for some sheds this week with the snow melting like it is. I found my first of the year last friday...a pretty heavy 3-4 yr. old 4-pt. side. Anyone finding sheds up Brockport way?

WNY, I can honestly say I havent really gotten going with sheds this year, just like last year, its been one of those springs! I havent been able to take the time away to go play. Me and two buddies of mine always have a contest and we usually are good for at least 75 to 100 antlers, plus all the "deadheads" or skulls and dead bucks. Ive been hearing of guys with around a half dozen each, but I havent asked the hard core guys, I almost dont wanna hear what Im missing out on! Its pretty competitive in areas around here, so some guys walk it daily on the snow. I chuckle, because theyll pick out the obvious one, but miss too many and burn out for an area. I miss antlers in my pens some days, and I KNOW those are there, and we are talking BC minimums! I sure do miss the "good old days" when I could wait till April to even look for the first time. Now all Id see was people footprints. How are YOU doing with it this year down in the hills?

Bill,

To be honest with ya...there is almost no shed hunting pressure in my part of the county that I'm aware of. In fact, I only know one guy, who is a buddy of mine, who actually looks for sheds and he and I look in different locations. I'm pretty certain that I have the several farms that I look on to myself. There really aren't the hills in my area like there are in the southern portion of the county...most of my area is pretty flat farmland. It should be some good shed hunting around here in a couple of days when the rest of the snow goes. There were some dandies around before season...and the way the season went, I think most of them made it through. My ace in the hole spot that I really want to get permission to look on is a 1000 acre farm owned by my uncle's father-in-law. They haven't shot any little bucks here in years and there are around 2,500-3,000 acres in the immediate area that are actively managed for QDM for the past several years. My uncle's father-in-law has the best food sources in the area and they've seen a ton of bucks (and some really nice ones too) since season ended. I just know that there are some big antlers laying around there. I sure am pumped to get out and do some tromping around. Good luck if you get the chance to get out.