Bucks with antlers in March!!
03-19-2005, 11:52 AM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,846
RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
My grampa said he saw two dandy bucks with their antlers still on a week ago and this is in Wisconsin. I know thers a few nice bucks that we've been watching over in iowa that dropped their antlers because the neighbors found them. I think they had a fairly easy winter and are holding their antlers longer. i was surprised, as there were no acorns for them to eat. Ate ag crops all fall and winter.
slayer
slayer
03-20-2005, 09:19 AM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Canaan, Indiana
Posts: 317
RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
i saw two bucks still having antlers friday on my way to work,one spike, ons 6 or 8 pt.
but i found one shed too, so im not sure when to `really` start looking for sheds...
but i found one shed too, so im not sure when to `really` start looking for sheds...
03-23-2005, 11:34 AM
#18
Typical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 681
RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
I was in Iowa scouting last weekend and saw 6 bucks(all dinks) with their racks still on. I couldn't believe why we were finding any sheds and that's why. I would have thought that atleast 80% would have dropped them by last weekend.
03-25-2005, 10:14 AM
#19
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 174
RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
IL-Cornfed, is right for the most part. This is later in the year than usual.
Nutrition has a great deal to do with shedding of antlers, but most of it is dependant upon "photoperiodism".
Photoperiodism is the amount of light that reaches the deers pituatary gland. This gland triggers most of their behaiviors and changes, including antler growth, and casting.
The amount of day-light increases well after the rut. This triggers a drop in testosterone levels, which in turn loosens the cells around the pedicle. Therefore the antler is left to either fall or be bumped off the deers head.
Larger, more dominant bucks involved in the majority of the breeding, experience a larger drop in testosterone. This causes them to drop their antlers sooner than "scrub" bucks normally.
However, as I mentioned, nutrition does have a factor as well. So less stressful winters will cause deer to retain their antlers longer too. Often times the new budding antler pushes the old antler off.
Its these years that antler growth will be impeded slightly, because of the "late" start. Although, the nutritients a deer receives during the antler growing period have more to do with it, than the length of time they have to grow them.
Hope you guys have a lil better understanding of how and why a deer drops its antlers.---Matt
Nutrition has a great deal to do with shedding of antlers, but most of it is dependant upon "photoperiodism".
Photoperiodism is the amount of light that reaches the deers pituatary gland. This gland triggers most of their behaiviors and changes, including antler growth, and casting.
The amount of day-light increases well after the rut. This triggers a drop in testosterone levels, which in turn loosens the cells around the pedicle. Therefore the antler is left to either fall or be bumped off the deers head.
Larger, more dominant bucks involved in the majority of the breeding, experience a larger drop in testosterone. This causes them to drop their antlers sooner than "scrub" bucks normally.
However, as I mentioned, nutrition does have a factor as well. So less stressful winters will cause deer to retain their antlers longer too. Often times the new budding antler pushes the old antler off.
Its these years that antler growth will be impeded slightly, because of the "late" start. Although, the nutritients a deer receives during the antler growing period have more to do with it, than the length of time they have to grow them.
Hope you guys have a lil better understanding of how and why a deer drops its antlers.---Matt
