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Cold snap

as long as proper browse & good nutrition on farm- cold temps have a lot of upside…. Insects, benefits to soil, etc. Lot of nasty stuff goes by by.

Here’s one I do wonder about…. Add some cold & that’s often a 2-4 week difference on when a buck sheds his antlers. On one side someone might think- less stress the better (in some regards true) so holding antlers later is better. On the other hand… if the cold simply speeds it up and animal is still in just fine condition…. I do wonder if a bit earlier shedding gets the process going earlier - resulting in a longer antler formation process. Which could lead to larger racks. I have to think- maybe wrong- when I see bucks with 3” long nubs next to bucks still holding their racks….. kinda makes me wonder if earlier shedding could be desireable???? The one fine point or line…. too much stress + Lack of food & nutrition resulting in early dropping is for sure not good. But, earlier shedding with good nutrition…. Hmmmm. Maybe better?????
 
Sligh1 said:
I do wonder if a bit earlier shedding gets the process going earlier - resulting in a longer antler formation process. Which could lead to larger racks. I have to think- maybe wrong- when I see bucks with 3” long nubs next to bucks still holding their racks….. kinda makes me wonder if earlier shedding could be desireable???? The one fine point or line…. too much stress + Lack of food & nutrition resulting in early dropping is for sure not good. But, earlier shedding with good nutrition…. Hmmmm. Maybe better?????
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Glad to know I wasn’t the only one that ever thought this.. totally anecdotal evidence BUT had several 3-4 yr olds last year I expected to make good jumps this year.. None did… all grew 10ish inches probably. Maybe 15ish max. All held until late February to mid march last spring.
 
Sligh1 said:
as long as proper browse & good nutrition on farm- cold temps have a lot of upside…. Insects, benefits to soil, etc. Lot of nasty stuff goes by by.

Here’s one I do wonder about…. Add some cold & that’s often a 2-4 week difference on when a buck sheds his antlers. On one side someone might think- less stress the better (in some regards true) so holding antlers later is better. On the other hand… if the cold simply speeds it up and animal is still in just fine condition…. I do wonder if a bit earlier shedding gets the process going earlier - resulting in a longer antler formation process. Which could lead to larger racks. I have to think- maybe wrong- when I see bucks with 3” long nubs next to bucks still holding their racks….. kinda makes me wonder if earlier shedding could be desireable???? The one fine point or line…. too much stress + Lack of food & nutrition resulting in early dropping is for sure not good. But, earlier shedding with good nutrition…. Hmmmm. Maybe better?????
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I saw a podcast talking about early shedding a year or so ago. Seems like a biologist said early shedding meant they finished growing earlier than the late shedders. I have seen some bucks fully finished when others had a lot of growing left...Interesting topic and I'd love to hear more about it.
 
Nrharris said:
I always assumed the bucks that held their racks later into the winter and spring did so because they were healthier and not as stressed. I always assumed because of that, they would grow more the next year. Starting to second guess my assumptions.
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Me too! Then this year the fattest/ most healthy looking buck I was aware of was the first one to shed this year in early December. A buck that got shot in the butt in early november and has looked run down and skinny all year is still holding now. Don’t think we’ll ever figure it out!
 
Went past the neighbors yesterday and didn’t notice- but today went past and they have a 150” type deer laying dead under their bird feeders…. Less than a half mile from my food plots that have 50+ deer a night in… so seems odd
 
Sligh1 said:
as long as proper browse & good nutrition on farm- cold temps have a lot of upside…. Insects, benefits to soil, etc. Lot of nasty stuff goes by by.

Here’s one I do wonder about…. Add some cold & that’s often a 2-4 week difference on when a buck sheds his antlers. On one side someone might think- less stress the better (in some regards true) so holding antlers later is better. On the other hand… if the cold simply speeds it up and animal is still in just fine condition…. I do wonder if a bit earlier shedding gets the process going earlier - resulting in a longer antler formation process. Which could lead to larger racks. I have to think- maybe wrong- when I see bucks with 3” long nubs next to bucks still holding their racks….. kinda makes me wonder if earlier shedding could be desireable???? The one fine point or line…. too much stress + Lack of food & nutrition resulting in early dropping is for sure not good. But, earlier shedding with good nutrition…. Hmmmm. Maybe better?????
Click to expand...
I asked Higgins this question on his last chasing giants podcast. Since he raised captive deer in the past I figured he would know. He said early shedding makes no difference and it’s all about a good warm Spring. He said all bucks start growing back at the same time. You can watch his answer on last Sundays podcast.
 
tall@wide said:
I asked Higgins this question on his last chasing giants podcast. Since he raised captive deer in the past I figured he would know. He said early shedding makes no difference and it’s all about a good warm Spring. He said all bucks start growing back at the same time. You can watch his answer on last Sundays podcast.
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It's not that cut and dry. I have watched bucks with obvious growth right next to bucks still carrying the last year's rack in April.
 
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