Sure seems early for this

[horst]

Talked to a guy today that said this weekend they shot a big doe that turned out to be a buck that already shed his antlers.Then yesterday he got shot his buck, it hit the ground and both antlers popped off, he showed the antlers to me that were still in his truck and sure enough they were sheds, or woulda soon been sheds if he hadnt shot the deer i should say.Guese ill have to keep an eye out late muzzleloading, might find one laying somewhere

 

[Bowhuntingboy]

Wow,
That does seem quite early! That scares me a bit-I hope they aren't dropping already-I'm still after a trophy in late season bow hunting up in Minnesota. Hmmm. That is interesting.

 

[all4s]

I went on a doe kill in southern Iowa a few years back that about made us cry. We shot 4-5 big bucks we thought were does.

I don't think it's early for sheds. My theory is, the bucks must be healthy for the new growth to push out the old. Am I right or wrong? I don't know. I did see my first shed buck (one side) over a month ago. Just be careful doe killers!
Hunt on All4s

 

[Shedhuntermd]

It is not the new growth pushing out the prior sheds. It is simply the seasonal shedding. I have multiple pictures of deer with just their pads exposed it is a good month to two months before they start to grow their next set. Unhealthy deer, stressed, or wounded deer will shed first. I will start finding sheds right after Christmas in areas around me with overpopulations of deer and little food. In areas with in 10 miles of the stressed deer I will see antlered bucks clear until mid March every year, but they are far healthier with much lower deer numbers.