I'm noticing the larger antlered bucks have dropped their antlers, while the forks and spikes bucks are attached. I suppose the weight(gravity) and size(more potential to be snagged) are playing a role in who has shed their antlers...or is some hormonal thing? MOBU in NW Wiscosin
my belief is that since the younger bucks do the majority of the breeding that they will carry longer than the older bucks. once a buck stops rutting he loses his antlers. but there are ideas why bucks lose their horns as well. this is just my belief. good question though. last week I got pics of two young bucks fighting. my guess was that one of the young does came in heat.
Gravity....! Actually its all hormone and diet related... same reason my hair is turning grey, my muscle mass is closer to the ground and my mid section is expanding! T
Smaller racks and bodies don't need as much nutrition to maintain as the big boys and their headgear. Just my guess. V
