Shed Question

[TheChad23]

Quick question before I head off to work and might be a rookie question but do deer shed their antlers at different time in different locations? Here in Washington do the deer in different elevations, temps, and terrains start to shed their antlers mainly at the same time or certain locations shed before others? Be back on later to look and thanks in advance.

[boonerboy]

further north you go the earlier the deer or elk will drop. It has to do with the amount of daylight. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'm sure someone else could give you a morre detailed answer.

[benhuntin]

No clue why but they shed at all different times in different spots

[mtman]

I was thinking about the photoperiodism the other day. If it causes the rut and the sheding of antlers. what happens at the equator. Daylight is the same all the time I think. So why do the antlers drop there.

[Maverick]

The way I understand it is it has to do with the rut, weather and testosterone levels. I think how hard the winter is, is the biggest effect. So a buck that did a lot of breeding, and had a hard winter would make his testosterone level drop and he would drop his antlers before a buck in a different area with a more mild winter. This is what I've been told. It makes sense to me because where I shed hunt last year we had a harder winter and found sheds in January. This year we had a very mild winter and are just now finding sheds. Correct if I'm wrong. But its a good enough explanation for me

[HardCorpsHuntr]

I've got bucks behind my house that hang out together, but shed 9 weeks appart!  My guess would be genetics and/or birth date.
 

[Bigtine96]

It has to do with hormone levels after the rut. I fluid builds up in the pedicles and takes the calcium out of the antler until it falls off the head.

[buckfvr]

Almost all of the above has been said to contribute, Ive also read the bucks that do the most breeding have the earliest and biggest testosterone swing which contributes, plus mass and overall weight makes them come loose  easier.....lots of factors....Also read first to shed, first to start new growth.....

[Crowns]

There is a very small deer species in south america that sheds every couple of years because of what you guys were saying about the amount of sunlight. Everything that has been said here is true. Lots of factors.