Early Shedder?
 

As me and my hunting buddie were hunting the last muzzleloader day he jokingly said he had a good feeling about that nights hunt kind of like you know your going to see the biggest buck of your life kind of night. He even went as far to say he was walking out of the woods dragging something and made a wager on it. As Im sitting there he calls me on my cell to tell me the HUGE 12 (160 +) pointer he caught on his trail cam is bedded 30 yards from his stand. I asked him why the *&*@ he hasn't shot yet and what the heck is he waiting for and (heres the kicker) he tells me it doesn't have any antlers! I said look close, are you sure? and he proceeded to describe the buck in detail to me. It was the 200+ pound 7 or more year old buck just laying there looking up taunting him as he openly talked on the cell phone. It walked off about a half hour later and we broke for lunch. I had to laugh, I mean come on a buck with no antlers in mid Dec what are the chances. He said it had circles on its head the size of the handle of a baseball bat. I told him it had to be the age of the buck that causes this (correct me anyone) Anyway, he get back in his stand and no sooner who shows up? Yup and this time bedded directly under his stand! Talk about pushing it! I almost pissed my pants and then fell out of the tree laughing. He said it walked in looking directly at him and even snorted at him 2 times. It new he was there without a doubt. I asked him if we would have found the sheds earlier by accident what would have been the outcome and he said I would be making good on that bet!

RE: Early Shedder?
 

I found a nice 4 by 4 rack last year in december sitting on top of the snow, with a little bit of blood where it fell out. Pretty neat, perfect condition.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

Ever see that video from Eastman hunting mule deer ??? They jumped a huge mulie and as it was running away with that crazy mulie hop the antlers fell off. Can youy imagine rifle up and your going to kill your biggest ever buck and thru the scope you see your trophy magically turn in to a doe ?

RE: Early Shedder?
 

My friend in NY was hunting white-tails in dec. He killed a nice little buck. When he turned the head around for some pics, Both antlers fell off in his hands. Imagine trying to explain that one to the game cop.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

My cousin shot a buck on the last day of the WI gun season, Nov. 28. It had already shed one antler, and as it was thrashing around, the other fell off. He brought the antler in with the deer. They registered it as an antlered buck.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

In Ohio ,I saw 2 bucks that were shot during our gun hunt ( week after Thanksgiving) that had shed 1 or both sides.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

The bucks around here are just starting to make scrapes and rubs.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

A friend of mine shot a buck last year & when he found it both antlers were gone. He had to back track & dig through the snow to find them.

RE: Early Shedder?
 

When I was at the check station last year a guy came in with a button buck. He didn't have a doe permit and when they asked for it he pulled 2 long spikes out of his pocket. He said they popped off when he shot the deer. His friends who were with him started busting his chops saying "Isn't that the same ones you used last year?!" He turned all red it was pretty funny!

RE: Early Shedder?
 

a true fact is that wounded deer tend to loose thier antlers earlier then normal.