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01-17-2020, 07:00 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
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Quote:
Originally Posted by northbuck
Yes...and no...
My 2 cents...
There are many factors that dictate the shedding of antlers...extreme cold weather is one of them but not the main one. If that was the case...I would have seen “bald bucks” during a few cold November’s where there were extended periods of cold weather as severe as what we are experiencing now. And in 35 years of hunting, I’ve never seen a shed buck in November, no matter how cold it got.
I’m very fortunate to live very close to an area which is an annual deer wintering and feeding ground...so I get to watch deer almost every day after hunting season. Some bucks I have watched for up to 6 years...and there are certain things I have noticed. The actual physical condition of bucks coming into winter seems to be what most influences the shedding of antlers. I have found antlers in December from some of the deer I observe....and there was always one common denominator with those extremely early shedding bucks...they were in poor physical shape at the end of November. A few of them were old timers that were past their peak and looked skinny and unhealthy...and a few were bucks that were wounded or had sustained injuries. And for most of those deer that dropped in December, it ended up being their last winter...they never showed up again in following years. The few that did return the year after having shed super early....had severely decreased in antler size.
For sure cold can be hard on deer...but our northern deer have adapted over time and are built for it. I have watched groups of bucks go through stretches of extreme cold weather in December and January but still not start dropping antlers much before late February and into March. So cold wasn’t much of a factor those particular years.
I think lack of nutrition along with deep snow after the rut when they are trying to recuperate might be bigger negative factors. They stress and adversely affect a buck’s health or ability to recuperate. Deep snow is the one factor that seems to negatively affect deer the most in my area. Not only do they have to work harder to move to and from bedding to feeding...they also expend more energy having to find and work to reach food through the snow. It also seems the coyotes harass the deer more in times of deep snow...causing even more stress on the latter.
I have never seen noticeably earlier antler shedding from cold weather alone..but the few winters where general antler shedding seemed earlier than usual were always winters with noticeably deeper snow cover than usual.
I’m not saying that cold isn’t a factor...I just don’t think cold alone to be as big a negative impact or physical drain to a buck’s health as deep snow and lack of good nutrition can be.
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I agree with your observations, but did you read the link I provided? Antlers shed due to a drop in testosterone levels. It would have to be mighty cold to make testosterone levels drop during the rut.
Deer go into the rut in top condition, testosterone levels are maxed out. When they start getting nutritionally stressed it drops testosterone levels but when testosterone is maxed out I’m not sure how long it would take for them to drop low enough for deer to shed their antlers, that’s why you won’t see them shed during the rut. When you have 3’ of snow in January, finding high nutrition food is hard, the rut is over so testosterone levels are already naturally coming down, then you add in a low nutrition diet and you’ll get early antler shedding, and likewise when it’s 40 below in January after the rut when testosterone levels are naturally dropping and they have to burn up their stored fat and use the food energy to keep warm.
It’s not an emotional thing, it has nothing to do with moon phases it’s a natural process caused by dropping testosterone levels, and nutrition plays a big role in testosterone levels, especially after the rut.
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01-17-2020, 04:40 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 459
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How about we concentrate on posting shed pics.
No one wants pages of back and forth arguing.
Cheers
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01-18-2020, 12:38 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CanadianEh
How about we concentrate on posting shed pics.
No one wants pages of back and forth arguing.
Cheers
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As you wish...
Easy ones from this morning...matching set from a real old buck. He’s the first one I expected to shed...old and has a significant limp since late November.
2126425F-C66C-4067-9CF5-2D914FB97B5C.jpg
51ACEA7C-259A-4F1B-95A7-85A57E9A59C4.jpg
179882F2-4100-4724-954F-0B53F0391148.jpg
As I preview my post, I notice the pics are rotated. I have finally figured out how to download directly from phone but if anyone could let me know how to keep them from rotating...or how to correct it...please let me know...
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01-18-2020, 12:53 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 160
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144DE180-D3B3-4129-8740-E1F8B9D3FCE1.jpg
Here is the matched set. It might not be evident but they are both visible in the “as they lay” pic I previously posted...one on road and the other in the ditch 10 yds past it.
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01-18-2020, 04:58 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 20
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Wish I had time to get out and look!
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01-29-2020, 11:31 AM
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Rocky Mtn House,AB
Posts: 2,200
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Well at around 0830hrs. this morning, I had 2 bull moose playfully butting antlers about 200 yards in front of the house.
Both still sporting 40ish antlers.
Same thing happened last year on Jan 01. Went for a walk on the 3rd, and found one pan in the snow.
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01-30-2020, 02:13 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Stuck in the Rut
Posts: 55
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First one
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02-01-2020, 11:04 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 671
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Last edited by sanjuanworm; 02-01-2020 at 11:20 AM.
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02-01-2020, 01:28 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 140
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Saw about 80 mule deer on a drive yesterday in central alberta. Seen about 30 or so bucks still packing both sides. Didn't see any 1 antlered deer or obvious shedded bucks. Seen a few groups doing some light sparring as well. Deer were herded up feeding mid day.
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02-01-2020, 04:19 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 11
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Saw a couple whitetail bucks still sporting both sides a couple days ago. Just east of Edmonton.
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02-02-2020, 10:26 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 956
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Picked up 8 whitetail sheds today..lots still packin though
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02-03-2020, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Posts: 6
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We're having a mild winter in Wyoming. Not much snow and there are bucks around where I live. I have not seen anything that has shed its antlers yet.
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02-03-2020, 01:25 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 350
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I’ve seen some bucks in the West Country without antlers but still see most deer packing once you escape the harsh realities of mountain life
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02-03-2020, 01:46 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,581
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bowhunter12
Yup .. has a ton to do with it .. stress / weather / feed / age
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yup....
__________________
Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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02-03-2020, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 797
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trophyhunter
Found this on a nice rub line a while back.
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We seen one just like that at Wainright
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02-04-2020, 07:59 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
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Almost smoked a hard horned whitetail buck with the work truck in High Prairie on about the 28th. His partner was still packing too.
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02-04-2020, 09:54 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,699
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My 5-year old daughter was very excited to see him wearing only one antler. She knows they shed, but had never seen one before with only one, lol. She kept laughing saying that it’s funny.
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02-06-2020, 05:23 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Fort Sask
Posts: 175
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Great pic!!
I found this guy yesterday, saw it 40 yards off the road
__________________
Wanna pass me my wallet ..Which one is it..? Its the One that says Bad Mother*****er on it
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02-07-2020, 03:40 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Far Enough From The City, AB
Posts: 1,571
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Saw a group of Mulies East of Fort Saskatchewan yesterday, 3 bucks were in the group and all 3 were still carrying both sides. Looking forward to getting out soon to do some searching with the kids....
__________________
"Better To Be Judged By 12, Then Buried By Six"
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02-07-2020, 07:27 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Stuck in the Rut
Posts: 55
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Wife found a couple today
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02-07-2020, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Stuck in the Rut
Posts: 55
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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02-13-2020, 09:51 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Fort Sask
Posts: 175
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Any fresh finds?
__________________
Wanna pass me my wallet ..Which one is it..? Its the One that says Bad Mother*****er on it
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02-14-2020, 12:18 PM
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Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 200
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I found five whitetail sheds in January from the road, but haven't really been out looking and wont start until mid march seriously
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Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
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02-14-2020, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 258
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Out for a sled ride last weekend. Found a spot along a pipeline berm with a whole pile of tracks. Looked like they were all hanging out protected from the wind maybe.
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02-14-2020, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,615
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Nice ones curly. Workin around edson in a good whitetail area. Most still packin from what I can tell. Lotsa snow here in the bush.
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02-17-2020, 10:24 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Farm land
Posts: 944
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__________________
To each their own, as long as you hunt ethically I respect the weapon you choose! I use both bow/gun
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02-24-2020, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugenuge
Been my best start to the season 5 sheds found and two match sets already!
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That's so great! Quality bonding time too.
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02-25-2020, 07:47 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 11
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The wife snapped this photo in our front yard this morning. Judging by the tracks it looks like he's been in the area for awhile, gonna have to go take a good look around this weekend.
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02-27-2020, 07:51 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Farm land
Posts: 944
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__________________
To each their own, as long as you hunt ethically I respect the weapon you choose! I use both bow/gun
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02-28-2020, 08:14 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 25
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Found one mule deer shed last weekend. Still many packing headgear in the mountain West of Calgary
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