What happened to my hit-list buck’s rack? It’s gone!
QUESTION: I live in central Kentucky and am accustomed to bucks beginning to shed their antlers in mid- to late January. Unfortunately, a hit-list 10 pointer shed just before Christmas. Is there a rule-of-thumb date a buck sheds its crown?
ANSWER: We get this question often, so it’s worth re-visiting. We still don’t know their exact purpose, but recent studies suggest antlers play a role in breeding, and that females might show some preference for bucks with larger antlers. It makes sense from a natural selection standpoint, as large antlers demonstrate the health and vigor of the individual.
Once the breeding season is over, antlers are unnecessary and could be detrimental, acting as radiators in drawing heat away from the body in cold climates and possibly being damaged to the point where their value is diminished.
Day length, age and health all play a role in when antlers are shed. While most bucks shed at roughly the same time, there are always exceptions. An older, sick or injured deer might shed sooner. Available moisture also could be a factor with bucks shedding earlier in drought years, or where certain minerals are lacking.
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