what makes a buck drop his horns?

[Hilltop123]

This answer is as good as others..............GRAVITY         

[boneaddict]

Love it.

[Rainier10]

This answer is as good as others..............GRAVITY         

Nailed it, I think that is the funniest answer.  Bones multiple descriptions are probably closer but yours is funnier.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Bone Addict nailed it. Hormonal changes brought on by the length of the day. Antler shedding is linked to decreasing testosterone levels. As testosterone levels decrease, special cells called osteoclasts form at the juncture of the skull and antler. Osteoclasts reabsorb calcium from the antler, weakening the joint between the skull and antler until the antler drops. As with anything hormonal, individual animals may release the hormone earlier or later than others. That's why you see some early on in the year that have lost their antlers and some very late in the winter that still have them.

Some species hang on to them longer than others also. Part of it could be when the breeding season is, or if a "second rut" kicks in. Or even how far north the animal lives.  Biologically there are reasons that packing a round a large set of antlers could be bad. Carrying that extra weight on a moose or an elk would mean that much extra energy would be expended during the winter when calories are harder to come by.  Not to mention the males have already spent most of their fat reserves fighting for mates. The farther north you go and snow increases it becomes even more critical.  The only use the antlers are after the rut is possibly as a weapon to fight off predation.  But there could be a trade off there as far as the animal getting back into good shape.

[Hilltop123]

Bone Addict nailed it. Hormonal changes brought on by the length of the day. Antler shedding is linked to decreasing testosterone levels. As testosterone levels decrease, special cells called osteoclasts form at the juncture of the skull and antler. Osteoclasts reabsorb calcium from the antler, weakening the joint between the skull and antler until the antler drops. As with anything hormonal, individual animals may release the hormone earlier or later than others. That's why you see some early on in the year that have lost their antlers and some very late in the winter that still have them.

Some species hang on to them longer than others also. Part of it could be when the breeding season is, or if a "second rut" kicks in. Or even how far north the animal lives.  Biologically there are reasons that packing a round a large set of antlers could be bad. Carrying that extra weight on a moose or an elk would mean that much extra energy would be expended during the winter when calories are harder to come by.  Not to mention the males have already spent most of their fat reserves fighting for mates. The farther north you go and snow increases it becomes even more critical.  The only use the antlers are after the rut is possibly as a weapon to fight off predation.  But there could be a trade off there as far as the animal getting back into good shape.

      Your answer is correct, for why they become dissconnected from the skull.........But my answer covers, why they drop..........

[huntandjeep]

I always thought that deer and elk dropped there antlers because of jackwagons chasing them with there quadrunners.

[Elk77]

..lotta unbred does in a given area the rut will last longer and the testosterone keeps flowing once the testosterone stops producing in a buck  a thin membrane begins to form over pedicle and the antler falls off

[lokidog]

The new year's antlers pushing the old ones out.

:yeah:jThat's what I've always thought.

Ummmmm......  No!      It is hormonal as mentioned.  Many stimuli have an impact on hormone production including light, weather, diet, genetics, and behaviour/activity.

[jdurham]

My game camers are out year round.  I too have seen them packing as late as april.  I feel much has to do with health and age.  The big set of sheds I found this year were dropped Jan. 6th.  Last year the same buck dropped them Dec. 24th.  Both years he lost both antlers within 2 feet of each other. Can't wait to see what he is next year. 

[boneaddict]

We need a live pic of that beast.   

[Maverick]

 

[boneaddict]

He posted them in the original thread.   DAMN fine deer.  DAMN FINE!