Horn growth

[Mallardmasher]

Most of our larger bucks dropped around christmas to New Years, and two are already bumped up about 3/4 inch, must be the good grub

[7mmfan]

So you're saying next year is the year for giant black tails?

[Eric M]

Wow that's early for blacktail. I've never found one before the 17th.

[Milkman]

Huh...  still see antlered bucks running around   

[Buck Rub Jr]

Saw this Guy today still packin!

[trophyhunt]

Saw a 3 point 4 days ago, also shot a buck that I thought was a doe about 5 years ago on December 30th. He had dropped his antlers already, other wise I’d have let him go. Blacktail drop early

[jnevs23]

I had a 4 pt whitetail in cam that dropped dec 18th last year.  It seems like most years they start dropping around January 1.  That said, I’ve seen deer still packing in April

[boneaddict]

I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already.  That’s weird.

[7mmfan]

Its this way every year. Some drop early, some drop late. I remember living in Ellensburg and finding fresh brown horns in January, and then going out in March looking and all the bucks I saw were still wearing theirs.

[fishnfur]

I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already.  That’s weird.

   If memory serves, antler growth is driven by testosterone and daylight photo-period, which should(in theory) be at it's lowest levels this time of year.  Somewhere around late-March into April is when new antler growth should begin, just as the days start making substantial gains in daylight around the Vernal Equinox. 

[J.Brower]

Picked up a roadkill buck last night, horns fell off when the guy hit it, he looked for the horns and left the deer....

[Skyvalhunter]

I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already.  That’s weird.

Could be because they are tired of you running all over BFE taking pictures of them!!

[boneaddict]

 

[Southpole]

We had bucks on our Curlew cams that had missing head gear this late December as well. Not just 1 or 2 either, there were several different bucks.

[meatwhack]

I saw a buck that was hard horned already.

[Watimberghost]

Hard horned still??

[fishnfur]

     This thread seems to be going in circles, or sideways.  At least I had a good laugh - thanks Skyvalhunter!

[DOUBLELUNG]

I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already.  That’s weird.

   If memory serves, antler growth is driven by testosterone and daylight photo-period, which should(in theory) be at it's lowest levels this time of year.  Somewhere around late-March into April is when new antler growth should begin, just as the days start making substantial gains in daylight around the Vernal Equinox. 

The third variable is body condition.  When body fat and muscle mass are adequate, antler growth starts soon after antlers drop.  Antler growth is slowed or delayed if body stores need to be replenished first. 

[Mallardmasher]

As Doublelung stated, Antlers begin to grow as soon as last years are dropped, but low body condition, stress, and low quality browse, hinder their growth. It still starts, as soon as others are dropped, but not noticeable, until body weight is replenished, and the brows has started new growth, and becomes more valuable. So now that body weight is replenished, we start shifting to higher protein. And trace min's and the horn's will really start to take off. My favorite time of year. The growth will amaze you, with the correct supplementation.

[Eric M]

As Doublelung stated, Antlers begin to grow as soon as last years are dropped, but low body condition, stress, and low quality browse, hinder their growth. It still starts, as soon as others are dropped, but not noticeable, until body weight is replenished, and the brows has started new growth, and becomes more valuable. So now that body weight is replenished, we start shifting to higher protein. And trace min's and the horn's will really start to take off. My favorite time of year. The growth will amaze you, with the correct supplementation.

This made me think about the time I took my granddaughter to NW Trek. The animals in there had some amazing growth for that time of year compared with the groups of animals I'd been watching in the wild earlier that week. I don't know if that's feed or lower stress?

[Mallardmasher]

Both, quality supplementation, will build the body stores after a stressful period. I.e. Rut, hard winter, pregnancy or fawning/lactating.

[Eric M]

Saw a nice 4 point buck still packing both sides today.