I hunt in NEPA and this season i was hunting 2 big bucks. One was a 4.5-5.5 yr old 8 point and the other a 5.5-6.5 yr old 9 point. Opening rifle was december 2nd and the crazy thing was opening morning at 7 am the 9 point crossed my stand at 7 am the problem was his rack was gone. I checked my cameras that night and he and the 8 point were both on cam with no racks. I can identify them by there ears which have specific rips in them. The racks weres hed right at the skull no breaks. Clean shed. Why would they lose there racks this early?????
Any chance that they were stressed? Drought, or a lot of early extreme cold? I also wonder if some of the deer get EHD or something similar and recover from it, but it wears down their system. The largest matched set I have ever found was in mid October. I took them to a deer biologist at the time and he said that the deer was either sick or injured. I never did see that deer again and assume it died soon after. I often find one or two sheds in December and hear of others doing the same. I dont think its normal and would think that something triggered the early drop. Good news is, next year they may be bigger. I passed an early shed buck last year and this year a buddy of mine shot it. It exploded into a 193" 6 x 6. Maybe you will be as lucky.
There wasn't a drought, plenty of water here. I think they bred heavily and they did lose a lot of body size. There were a few days of extreme cold but its normal for this time of year. Even if they fought a lot they didnt look injured. I really hope they dont have EHD.
I believe a have a buck from my last trail cam pull that had shed both sides. I'll have to go back and see if I can find the pictures to be sure.
I know they are starting to shed in MN. There are always some that shed in early December around here, and always some that hold into April and May. I am a big shed hunter and I believe a buck will shed his Antlers around the same time each year. Not sure if its true, but I have noticed this happening. Also, during big winter storms and cold fronts. That always seems to get em to drop.
I think stress from breeding and cold make them start dropping. I've got some little guys here that have dropped at least one side already too.
I'm now curious to check my cam... Have had it out for a good month now. We have had an excruciating cold streak the last 2 weeks (wind chills of -40 at times).
I checked my cams last Sunday and the bucks all still have their antlers. I have seen stressed bucks here shed in December before though.
One of the reasons I don't care for the late shotgun anterless season here in Indiana. Some folks have shot bucks that have already shed thinking they were a doe.
