dropping antlers
01-28-2003 | 09:39 AM
#21
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: oakdale ct USA
RE: dropping antlers
Ok Guys,
Let me throw one on you that might just muck up both of your thinking. A few years ago a deer was hit by a car in July, It was a 10 piont Doe, yep, I said doe. What caused the doe to have horns in the first place? Why didn't they drop off in the late winter/early spring? A wildlife biologist confirmed that this was a lactating doe. A year earlier a deer with only 1 antler was shot by a late season hunter, this also was a doe, the lost antler was from the natural sheding process, this took place in late December. Also confirmed by biologist as an adult breeding doe with a fetus.
So low or lowering testosterone{sp} levels might explain the antler drop and it might also explain the lack of dropping the antlers but why one and not the other. Given these where in a close areas with similar weather conditions in both years, nearly or the same hunting pressures and same food sources.
Your comments welcomed:>
Misplaced Buckeye
Let me throw one on you that might just muck up both of your thinking. A few years ago a deer was hit by a car in July, It was a 10 piont Doe, yep, I said doe. What caused the doe to have horns in the first place? Why didn't they drop off in the late winter/early spring? A wildlife biologist confirmed that this was a lactating doe. A year earlier a deer with only 1 antler was shot by a late season hunter, this also was a doe, the lost antler was from the natural sheding process, this took place in late December. Also confirmed by biologist as an adult breeding doe with a fetus.
So low or lowering testosterone{sp} levels might explain the antler drop and it might also explain the lack of dropping the antlers but why one and not the other. Given these where in a close areas with similar weather conditions in both years, nearly or the same hunting pressures and same food sources.
Your comments welcomed:>
Misplaced Buckeye
01-29-2003 | 11:00 PM
#23
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 0
From: ND
RE: dropping antlers
Misplaced Buckeye
No idea as I only thing I could think of would be a some type of a hormonal imbalance causing a doe to have antlers. All the bucks I and my friends have shot have had the right parts. All sheds I have found were taken for granted as coming from a buck. Rob is the scientific dude, I'll weasal out and let him answer the question.
Did the biologists give you reasons why it happened??
Rob
Cold weather or climate wouldn't be the only reason bucks are stressed and would drop early or why a southern area would mimic the north. Stress would still apply down south depending on the intensity of rut from competiton for breeding rights in areas where the buck/doe ratio is close to even. Intensity of rut from high number of does being bred by one buck in an overpopulated area with a poor buck/doe ratio. Overbrowsing due to a higher popluation then the carrying capacity of the area can handle. Drought conditions during and after the main rut. Poor plant nutrition in areas with poorer soil. Alot of these reason apply up here. Add winter to that and you will find a higher stress level year after year. They say the farther north you go the more photperiodism in noticed. I think it should be, the farther north you go winter conditions will add to the normal stress.
Tim
No idea as I only thing I could think of would be a some type of a hormonal imbalance causing a doe to have antlers. All the bucks I and my friends have shot have had the right parts. All sheds I have found were taken for granted as coming from a buck. Rob is the scientific dude, I'll weasal out and let him answer the question.
Did the biologists give you reasons why it happened??Rob
Cold weather or climate wouldn't be the only reason bucks are stressed and would drop early or why a southern area would mimic the north. Stress would still apply down south depending on the intensity of rut from competiton for breeding rights in areas where the buck/doe ratio is close to even. Intensity of rut from high number of does being bred by one buck in an overpopulated area with a poor buck/doe ratio. Overbrowsing due to a higher popluation then the carrying capacity of the area can handle. Drought conditions during and after the main rut. Poor plant nutrition in areas with poorer soil. Alot of these reason apply up here. Add winter to that and you will find a higher stress level year after year. They say the farther north you go the more photperiodism in noticed. I think it should be, the farther north you go winter conditions will add to the normal stress.
Tim
