Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

Was turkey hunting here in Alabama on opening day (March 15th) and saw a small 4 point. Couldn't believe I was seeing antlers this late in the year!

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

A buddy of mine saw a 10 point yesterday! St. Patty's Day! Some just hold them real late! These deer were in Jersey by the way...

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

8 pt georgia last week saw him in the back yard

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

We have more deer carrying antlers later this year than I have ever seen. I believe a lot of it is releated to the fact that our deer have had nearly no winter stress. I also have friends that send me pics from OK and KS and they also still have deer with "horns". Here's a pic to prove it.

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

A buddy of mine had a six point in his yard yesterday.

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

My father in law saw 2 nice bucks yesterday near his apple trees.

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

I've had my camera out for a month and not one pic of a buck in Michigan."with horns that is"

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

No horns

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

here in wisconsin i'm noticing lots of buxs still holding on

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

a 8pnter came 12 yards from me still had antlers

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

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

Saw two bucks a couple days ago 150" 10pt. and a mid 130" 8pt.

I got a call from a buddy that saw two more bucks with both sides in a large herd of 80 deer.

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...

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RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

Antlers in March! Man, they're early this year. Let's go hunting!

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

seen a half rack with 5 points on one side, the other side fell off and i got a picture on my digi cam of an 8 point

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

but these are antlers that have not fallen yet

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.

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:)

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

I saw an 8 and a 10 in Greenville, Al on the 15th!! I wish I could have found them in Jan.

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

While out conducting a prescribe burn today I had a buck jump up right in front of me that still had an antler on one side.

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

i saw a spike if that counts

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

got another buck on my cam today in IL... other than that havnt seen anymore. I have been looking for sheds where deer have to jump over creeks and in the grasses. Any perticular place to look when searching for sheds?

RE: Bucks with antlers in March!!
 

had a buddy tell me he saw a buck this morning, with both antlers still on.. this is crazy.