shed hunting

[pinkfloyd4ever]

When do the bucks start shedding their antlers? I have seen a nice ten pointer near where I live so trying to figure out the best time to get out and start looking.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Anytime between now and spring when the new growth pushes them off.

There are so many different factors that dictate when a buck drops its antlers, you can't put a date on it. Just keep on him and look when ever you have time.

[DonBo]

I've seen them drop as early as now, and I've seen them in early April with antlers still attached. Like BD said, lots of factors involved.

[Musky Buck]

90% in late march early april. My trailcam last spring had 11 different bucks with full headgear past March 23rd. It varies by area, the better condition they go into winter in the longer they hold em, the set I found on April 8th had blood all over the bases. But, I will look a bit in february for the early shedders, but like the past 30 years I'll likely be disappointed until the end of march which leaves little time to look as things are thawing and they are spreading out, I wish they shed earlier so I could find more of em, but there are other factors.

[Musky Buck]

My 90 % means just in my Ottertail county area(s). Other areas 90% will be shed by january, it varies.

[scsavre]

The earliest I saw last year was the middle of Febuary. I didnt find the shed, but the big 10 pointer that come to my yard most nights, came one night an antler short.

[DonBo]

I shot a "big doe" in December years ago that turned out to be a buck that had already lost his antlers. A friend shot another in December who's antlers came off while he was dragging it out of the woods, bummer.

[Musky Buck]

I have heard that as well Donbo. It varies. The person who told me that they'll hold them longer the better shape they go into winter I ?ed because wouldn't most of this years deer herd start out winter pretty well ? Yet, some will find some possibly by the end of the month and where I'm at I won't start until April 1st and thereafter like the last 30 years.

[Gofishleech]

I know of a deer, buck shot near Park rapids that lost one side already.

[Musky Buck]

It amazes me that P.R is 35 miles away from where we shed hunt and 90% will still have them in March or so it seems by experience and trail cams, areas differ quickly and I'd hate to think I took a doe muzzy hunting only to find out it was a shed buck.

[buckhunter21]

From what Ive read it has alot to do with the bucks genetics that determines when they will drop their antlers. A buck that was raised on a farm typically loses its antlers around the same time each year unless they are injured, had a tough rut, or something of that nature. Dont know why some will drop in December and some not until April. As for me the earliest I have found a shed was in late December and I have trail cam pics of bucks with horns until late March every year.

[LETSgoFISHIN]

i have trail cam pictures of 2 bucks that were minus antlers last week. southern st.louis county

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Well at least I know not to give up finding them until march/april then.

What is the normal patten for shedding them? I mean would my odds increase looking more in wooded area or open field area? I realize of course each deer would be different

[Musky Buck]

We find them close to bedding grounds or on heavily used trails, but we won't enter the bedding grounds if jumping any deer would put stress on them, luckily for us winter is over before they shed often. My trailcam between March 23rd and April 5th had 11 antlered bucks and none that appeared to be shed bucks. From what I hear the arrowhead region seems to be where they shed first. Things vary, but one of my uncles has hundreds of sheds and has been at it since the 60's so I just wait for him to call that he has found more than 1 bucks shed and I know it's time to start looking, last year he called about March 25th and every year he calls in March, sure we find a few in February, often times big boys. But don't ask me why the leaf river bottom bucks and the NYM bucks shed so late every season as well as the bucks south of Wadena.

[winniewalleye777]

I found an antler in SW minnesota while pheasant hunting last weekend. I am not sure if it was a shed or a deer that had been lost during the season, but it looked like a pretty clean shed of the antler. I was very surprised to say the least.

[Matt Breuer]

I shot one North of Bemidji the last weekend of muzzy season last year that had already lost his antlers. Post holes were still bloody...

[Musky Buck]

I know some say push the rifle season back out of the rut which would likely push muzzy to a later start date possibly so how can it be done if some are shooting antlerless bucks already ? Won't it defeat the purpose a bit ? Anyway, good luck in the waning days of Muzzy or late bow.

[jnorm1984]

Ive herd the majority loose em by late march( sooner also of course), but some dont..My brother in-law saw a big hard horned 8 last year in june, wait no, it was a hard horned 4! only had one side!, Ive never herd or saw hard horns that late before.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Thanks for all the tips everyone, see what comes the next few months

[Musky Buck]

Right on learning to fly, I mean floyd, I'm out many weekends in the winter cutting lanes, etc. deer stand repairs or whatever I think I need to do and always scout a bit for them, but grab the trailcam and realize it'll be end of march like usual. But, your area is likely different, a tcam is a big help, my guess is farm country bucks and big woods bucks are a different beast when it comes to shedding.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Thanks MB, this is in the metro burbs, but residential, I think there are only a few secluded areas it roams in

[paul pachowicz]

for the past several years we have had a late season for does 2-- 9 Jan, OR if you didn't fill a buck tag you could use it on a doe. Sure enough, every year one of us killed a bald buck with bloody or healing posts. I just wanna find the one that shed the antlers I found last month. This year GF&P moved the late season to the 26th of Dec thru 3 Jan and I agree with that. Hopefully a few less baldies will get bagged.

[Musky Buck]

True enough. Off to try to push a deer past a friend, he's ate tag soup long enough, 7 years, no mature bucks, his next one will really have some meaning.

[so haaad]

I just arrowed one tonight in the north metro that I thought was a doe and turned out to be a buck that had already dropped his headgear. This is really early around the north metro. Last couple of years it's been Feb/March.

[Quackaddict9]

On one of our trail cam, one of the bucks has dropped one side. By the date of the drop it was between 3-5 days ago.

[Musky Buck]

Interesting, I'll have to get my card out of Tcam and see if any have shed. Last year was mid-march, but last year is last year so who knows. It really is frustrating to shed hunt my area when shedding and spring are so close together, I wish for earlier shedders so I have time to look. My camera is in a random area in a swamp where there is a spring or 2 of water that never freezes leaving water for the critters. Good luck and better shed hunt quick now if ya are with impending winter weather on it's way.

[Neighbor_guy]

The one we hit with the car on sunday was a recently dropped buck. The stumps were still bleeding, so it couldn't have been long. Northern anoka co if that helps geographicly.

[PostFrontal]

I wonder if elk and deer shed at the same times? I used to look at the elk down by Pine Island every year to see if they had shed theirs, and if it was an indicator of the deer in the area. Found some spikes around the same time on our property by Roch. But still have no clue. The elk along 94 in Rogers have dropped theirs.

[ntrider]

i tried looking for sheds last spring...congrats to you guys that do and have success...i thought it was like looking for a needle in a haystack...i had always thought that deer lose antlers in spring with a few in winter, but a lot of you are seeing a lot of them already...is this typical or is this just a strange yr???

[InTheNorthwoods]

i tried looking for sheds last spring...congrats to you guys that do and have success...i thought it was like looking for a needle in a haystack...i had always thought that deer lose antlers in spring with a few in winter, but a lot of you are seeing a lot of them already...is this typical or is this just a strange yr???

Typical. When deer will drop antlers is based on so many different factors (genetics, stress, etc.) that there is no accepted time that deer are expected to lose their antlers. Every year some will drop them early (December) and others will hold them until the new growth practically pushes them off (April).