Hunting Washington Forum
Washington State Hunting Forum and Northwest Resource Site
Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
News:
Free:
Contests & Raffles
.
Home
Help
Calendar
Advertise
Login
Register
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Other Activities
»
Shed Hunting
»
Blacktail shed
Advertisement
Advertise Here
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
Author
Topic: Blacktail shed (Read 5261 times)
Thehowler
Political & Covid-19 Topics
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Longhunter
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 997
Blacktail shed
«
on:
December 31, 2019, 09:35:33 AM »
Out on Monday 12/30, looking for early dropped sheds and came across this one in a headwaters spring.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
«
Last Edit: December 31, 2019, 09:50:10 AM by Thehowler
»
Logged
MAGA, Never give up.
Advertise Here
7mmfan
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+7
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5496
Location: Marysville
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #1 on:
December 31, 2019, 10:26:13 AM »
screenshot your photo and post that
Logged
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.
b0bbyg
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+4
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3071
Location: SW Wa
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #2 on:
December 31, 2019, 11:08:53 AM »
I did not know they started dropping this early, guess its time to get out and start looking soon.
Plus I just need a good excuse to go hiking.
Logged
In God we trust, all others bring cash.
Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions.
Ecclesiastes 7 10
boneaddict
Site Sponsor
Administrator
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Legend
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 50475
Location: Selah, Washington
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #3 on:
December 31, 2019, 11:13:30 AM »
It’s pretty early yet
You find em where you find em. Lol
Logged
My BOOK Volume ONE
https://www.blurb.com/b/11881998-muley-madness-the-collection-volume-i
Volume TWO
https://www.blurb.com/b/11882571-muley-madness-the-collection
7mmfan
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+7
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5496
Location: Marysville
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #4 on:
December 31, 2019, 11:36:58 AM »
Like Bone said, it's pretty early. Most will drop between mid February and late March.I snuck into a blacktail wintering spot a few years ago the first week of March hoping to find a few, and all I saw were bucks running away with horns still firmly attached.
All deer species have early droppers, but whitetail and blacktail seem to have more than mule deer. I definitely wouldn't use one fresh horn as an excuse to hit the hills in January and run a bunch of wintering deer around. I don't think it's as big a deal with Blacktail, but can be a real bad deal for Mule Deer.
Logged
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.
7mmfan
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+7
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5496
Location: Marysville
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #5 on:
December 31, 2019, 11:39:18 AM »
And great shot howler, always cool finding them, even cooler finding one in a creek.
Logged
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.
Born2late
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+21
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 771
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #6 on:
December 31, 2019, 11:58:26 AM »
That looks like its chewed on from what i can see. might be a last years shed.cool find.
blacktail do drop in january up north. i think the lower elevation and southern ones drop later
Logged
boneaddict
Site Sponsor
Administrator
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Legend
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 50475
Location: Selah, Washington
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #7 on:
December 31, 2019, 12:12:18 PM »
Thats not a freshie as far as I can tell from here. Looks like an old one
Logged
My BOOK Volume ONE
https://www.blurb.com/b/11881998-muley-madness-the-collection-volume-i
Volume TWO
https://www.blurb.com/b/11882571-muley-madness-the-collection
buckfvr
Washington For Wildlife
Trade Count:
(
+7
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4515
Location: UNGULATE FREE ZONE UNIT 121
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #8 on:
December 31, 2019, 12:20:44 PM »
Those little buggers dont usually let go this early.
Logged
Birdguy
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3865
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #9 on:
January 01, 2020, 08:09:43 PM »
I have heard of two or three blacktails dropping already. In fact I saw game cam pics of a 2 pt that dropped on the guy found both just on the trial in his backyard December 23!! If he did not have the pictures of it hours before on his head I would not have believed it. Like I said I have since heard of at least 2 and I think a third already dropped. Might be a odd year fir blacktails
.
Logged
Bango skank
Political & Covid-19 Topics
Trade Count:
(
+9
)
Old Salt
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 5880
Location: colville
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #10 on:
January 01, 2020, 08:23:11 PM »
Granted im looking at the pic on my phone, but doesnt look like a fresh one to me
Logged
Atlas1993
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Pilgrim
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 21
Location: 568
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #11 on:
January 01, 2020, 09:43:03 PM »
I saw two bucks in the Washougal unit today that were both missing an antler... I didn't know they let go this early. A spike and a two point both missing their left sides.
Logged
lokidog
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Explorer
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15186
Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #12 on:
January 01, 2020, 10:55:31 PM »
It is early, but my neighbor shot one yesterday that had just dropped his antlers, so it does happen. That or he kicked them off to put his antlerless tag on it....
Logged
blackveltbowhunter
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+9
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4108
BLAM
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #13 on:
January 02, 2020, 07:12:36 AM »
A close up would help. From that pic it does not look fresh. Blacktails have the longest drop period from my experience, although that could be because I see them more than other species. In years past found a fresh 2 point in vail on thanksgiving weekend ( cant remember the exact dates) and a set of small forks around Christmas while trailing in the snow. I have also seen bucks still packing in deep April. Those are anomalies though, the majority drop on the usual dates.
Logged
Sitka_Blacktail
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3393
Location: Hoquiam, WA
Re: Blacktail shed
«
Reply #14 on:
January 02, 2020, 09:42:37 AM »
While there are other factors that can affect when exactly this happens such as nutrition, age of the deer, health of the deer, severity of the winter and latitude where the animal lives, hormone changes brought on by shortening days is the main trigger for antler loss. The full process usually takes weeks and that is where the other factors kick in.
And lengthening days causes hormone changes that kicks off the growth of new antlers.
The shortest day of the year is usually around Dec 2st or Dec 22nd so that is probably the kick off point for most bucks to start the process that leads to dropping their antlers. Exactly when they finally fall will be determined by the other factors. In Alaska, I've taken bucks in late November that have already lost their antlers and by the end of Dec, most will have lost them or they will be very loose. There will be a few that are still packing well into January. Had a buddy who had shot a nice 3x3 in early Dec. jump up on the side of his skiff and grab his buck by the antlers to hold it up for us to see. Both antlers popped loose and he lost his balance and fell backward into the water as we whooped it up. Was funny for us to watch but he lost a nice mount and got soaked in the process. Another time in late Dec, some friends and I were anchored up, enjoying coffee after breakfast when a nice fork horn walked out on the beach about 100 yards from us, so the boat owner stepped out on deck and shot while we watched with our binos. When he pulled the trigger, it looked like the antlers were spring loaded as they both flew in opposite directions.
In Washington in the mid Dec, late muzzleloader season it wasn't uncommon for us to take a buck that had dropped it's antlers. I shot a spike one year that had already dropped one antler and when if fell the other one fell off. I had to do some looking in tall grass to find the antler that I knew I'd seen when I shot. One pedicle was healed over and one was still raw. From what I've seen around home here on the coast, Most bucks lose their antlers from between late Jan into March. They are usually starting a new set by late April.
Logged
A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. ~ Michel de Montaigne
Advertise Here
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Other Activities
»
Shed Hunting
»
Blacktail shed
Advertisement
Advertise Here
Quick Links
Front Page
Donate To Forum
Advertise on H-W
Recent Posts
Articles
Forum Rules
Recent Topics
Parker Lake Buck Hunt 2025
by
bustedoldman
[
Today
at 02:01:04 PM]
2025 Draw Results
by
trophyhunt
[
Today
at 01:59:00 PM]
I'm Going To Need Karl To Come up With That 290 Muley Sunscreen Bug Spray Combo
by
MMCCAULEY
[
Today
at 01:57:27 PM]
Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help?
by
Rugergunsite308
[
Today
at 01:49:51 PM]
FFL preferences or warnings in Olympia or south Sound area?
by
netcoyote
[
Today
at 01:25:50 PM]
My wife drew quality deer DESERT rifle 10/18-10/26!!!!!
by
Brushbuster
[
Today
at 12:58:00 PM]
Cowiche Quality Buck
by
Bonnie
[
Today
at 12:45:51 PM]
Antlerless Moose more than once?
by
addicted1
[
Today
at 12:04:44 PM]
2025 OILS!
by
vandeman17
[
Today
at 11:08:12 AM]
Share your out of state experience
by
CasterlyRock
[
Today
at 09:45:12 AM]
Vancouver Outdoor Expo. WHOA WHOA WHAT?
by
nwmein199
[
Today
at 09:39:47 AM]
SE raffle tags holder
by
trophyhunt
[
Today
at 09:34:07 AM]
Anterless 1334 muzzle loader
by
avidnwoutdoorsman
[
Today
at 09:28:10 AM]
Maple creek outfitters
by
nwhunter
[
Today
at 08:17:17 AM]
Bow mount trolling motors
by
GWP
[
Today
at 07:32:25 AM]
Nevada guide draw Mule Deer
by
High Climber
[
Today
at 07:18:34 AM]
11th Annual 'Pull For Scouting' Clay Crushing Classic
by
high_hunter
[
Today
at 12:27:18 AM]
AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!!
by
high_hunter
[
Today
at 12:21:33 AM]
Ritzville Rifle Buck - GMU 284
by
high_hunter
[
Yesterday
at 11:49:16 PM]
Nooksack Muzzleloader Bull Tag
by
high_hunter
[
Yesterday
at 10:42:24 PM]
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal