whitetail antlers gdg

duk4me · Jun 29, 2009

I spent some time at the deer lease this past weekend and I saw a buck that last year was not quite a shooter. This county has a 13 in spread minimum and he was right there but we passed to let him grow.

His antlers appeared about half grown. The last week of March most of the bucks in our area still had last years antlers. I was curious about other areas of the country.

When do your bucks lose their antlers and when are they fully formed?

Here I guess the horns are gone around the first of April and are regrown and out of velvet the 1st of September. Northeast Texas area.

Thanks,

Tim

Franco · Jun 29, 2009

I use to hunt Whitetails in Noxubee Co. Ms and the adjoining county, Pickens, Al.(west central Alabama and east central Mississippi).

Not uncommon to see 170 class B&C bucks as this is a heavy argricultural area with tens of thousands of acres in soy beans and corn. One thing I noticed about antler growth is that the bucks harvested in the nearby piney woods had high racks, those killed on the prairie(agricultural land) were very wide.

Sheds usually happened in March and by end of April they were done. Most of the mature bucks had thier velvet rubbed off by mid-October. Pre-rut was early December and usually by Xmas they were in full blown rut.

Biggest buck I ever killed, I shot from the front porch of my cabin(The Rut Hut) in Noxubee Co. Ms. With my 56mm scope objective, I was able to take him by moonlight.;-) He scored 178 B & C.

DSemple · Jun 29, 2009

Timing is about the same here in northern Kansas. I find the majority of sheds after March 15th. By mid to late September, the bucks have lost their velvet. I think their antlers are about as big as they are going to get by about the 15th of August here.

Proud traditional bow hunter since 1974. …..Don

Hidden Valley · Jun 29, 2009

I grew up hunting just south of there in kemper county right outside of dekalb. We had about 4000 acres leased from paper company.

Franco said:
I use to hunt Whitetails in Noxubee Co. Ms and the adjoining county, Pickens, Al.(west central Alabama and east central Mississippi).

Not uncommon to see 170 class B&C bucks as this is a heavy argricultural area with tens of thousands of acres in soy beans and corn. One thing I noticed about antler growth is that the bucks harvested in the nearby piney woods had high racks, those killed on the prairie(agricultural land) were very wide.

Sheds usually happened in March and by end of April they were done. Most of the mature bucks had thier velvet rubbed off by mid-October. Pre-rut was early December and usually by Xmas they were in full blown rut.

Biggest buck I ever killed, I shot from the front porch of my cabin(The Rut Hut) in Noxubee Co. Ms. With my 56mm scope objective, I was able to take him by moonlight.;-) He scored 178 B & C.

i_willie12 · Jun 30, 2009

Missouri most antlers are off end of Feb to first of March. Then they start growing 1st may. There are some guys already posting pics on a MO whitetail site of some mosters already. Gotta think bow season starts Sept 15 here so there are full grown by about 1 Augs!!!!!

Socks · Jun 30, 2009

I hate you all!

Here in MI you don't see too many big boys. They're some out there, but I haven't seen them. I think, my opinion, too many people here shoot anything with antlers. That being said I've never gotten a buck so I might be a hypocrite if a buck is stupid enought to get into range.

j towne · Jun 30, 2009

i_willie12 said:
Missouri most antlers are off end of Feb to first of March. Then they start growing 1st may. There are some guys already posting pics on a MO whitetail site of some mosters already. Gotta think bow season starts Sept 15 here so there are full grown by about 1 Augs!!!!!

About the same here in MD.
We go out shed hunting if we get a late march or feb snow.
________
Cat wheels

i_willie12 · Jun 30, 2009

Socks said:
I hate you all! Here in MI you don't see too many big boys. They're some out there, but I haven't seen them. I think, my opinion, too many people here shoot anything with antlers. That being said I've never gotten a buck so I might be a hypocrite if a buck is stupid enought to get into range.

We have big deer in MO not as many some states. We now have a point restriction has to have at least 7 point in about 75% of the state to get us some older deer and keep people from shooting anything with horns. I love it some really hate it but give it a few years and they'll change there mind when they see bigger and more mature deer walking around!!!!!!

jimmyp · Jun 30, 2009

seems like most people start to shed hunt around her the end of febuary, but dont reall find much until mid to late march
jim

Socks · Jun 30, 2009

i_willie12 said:
We have big deer in MO not as many some states. We now have a point restriction has to have at least 7 point in about 75% of the state to get us some older deer and keep people from shooting anything with horns. I love it some really hate it but give it a few years and they'll change there mind when they see bigger and more mature deer walking around!!!!!!

I'm originally from MO myself, but I didn't start hunting until I moved to Michigan. They've got a psuedo antler restriction here on their combination tag, but it's for the second buck you can take with it and the buck has to have a min of 4pts on one side.

i_willie12 · Jun 30, 2009

Yeah its 4 here on one side not 7 total. Opps

whitetail antlers gdg

duk4me

Franco

DSemple

Hidden Valley

i_willie12

Socks

j towne

i_willie12

jimmyp

Socks

i_willie12

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