Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Mallardmasher on January 12, 2018, 06:17:18 PM

Title: Horn growth
Post by: Mallardmasher on January 12, 2018, 06:17:18 PM: 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
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: 7mmfan on January 12, 2018, 06:46:38 PM: So you're saying next year is the year for giant black tails?
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Eric M on January 12, 2018, 06:49:13 PM: Wow that's early for blacktail. I've never found one before the 17th.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Milkman on January 12, 2018, 07:36:20 PM: Huh... still see antlered bucks running around :dunno:
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Buck Rub Jr on January 12, 2018, 08:46:39 PM: Saw this Guy today still packin!
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: trophyhunt on January 12, 2018, 08:55:32 PM: 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
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: jnevs23 on January 13, 2018, 07:44:19 AM: 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
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: boneaddict on January 13, 2018, 08:01:26 AM: I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already. That’s weird.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: 7mmfan on January 13, 2018, 08:37:15 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: fishnfur on January 13, 2018, 09:40:15 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on January 13, 2018, 08:01:26 AM
I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already. That’s weird.

:yeah: 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.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: J.Brower on January 15, 2018, 10:42:43 AM: Picked up a roadkill buck last night, horns fell off when the guy hit it, he looked for the horns and left the deer....
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 15, 2018, 12:08:50 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on January 13, 2018, 08:01:26 AM
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!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: boneaddict on January 15, 2018, 12:30:43 PM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Southpole on January 15, 2018, 12:35:43 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: meatwhack on January 15, 2018, 05:11:33 PM: I saw a buck that was hard horned already.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Watimberghost on January 15, 2018, 05:50:36 PM: Hard horned still??
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: fishnfur on January 15, 2018, 10:29:26 PM: :dunno: :dunno: This thread seems to be going in circles, or sideways. At least I had a good laugh - thanks Skyvalhunter!
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on January 16, 2018, 07:57:51 AM: Quote from: fishnfur on January 13, 2018, 09:40:15 AM
Quote from: boneaddict on January 13, 2018, 08:01:26 AM
I noticed more early droppers this year, but new growth already. That’s weird.

:yeah: 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.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Mallardmasher on January 16, 2018, 09:28:28 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Eric M on January 16, 2018, 09:44:29 PM: Quote from: Mallardmasher on January 16, 2018, 09:28:28 PM
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? :dunno:
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Mallardmasher on January 17, 2018, 02:10:45 AM: Both, quality supplementation, will build the body stores after a stressful period. I.e. Rut, hard winter, pregnancy or fawning/lactating.
Title: Re: Horn growth
Post by: Eric M on January 19, 2018, 08:55:46 PM: Saw a nice 4 point buck still packing both sides today.