I work with a guy who believes that if bucks hold their antlers late it is a sign of high coyote or wolf population. The deer I feed tend to hold their antlers until March March 18 is the latest picture of non shed buck at my place. I tend to believe that the bucks are not stressed in my area because of food availability. Also a large refuge in the area provides an ample doe supply, not as much breeding stress. Has anyone ever heard of bucks keeping their antlers to protect themselves?
It has nothing to do with yotes or wolves or protection they drop when they drop..... Late feb to mid march here in GA most of the time, but over all it depends on the health of the deer heard in your area.. I have seen deer drop in Dec and have seen them with antlers in early April...
you are partly correct, but it’s more about testosterone than anything else. "A drop in testosterone levels triggers specialized cells called osteoclasts to activate. Osteoclasts eat away at the bone at the base of an antler and allow the antler to be cast. The process occurs quickly; antlers that are seemingly irremovable one day, readily fall off of their own accord a day or two later."
I would agree that hormone levels are dependent on health and stress, but which way would it affect hormone levels? Poor health and high stress = early dropping?
