CliffordN
Well-Known Member
My buddy keeps telling me he is seeing small fresh rubs. I told him, no way this early...
About what date do you think they will shed velvet?
About what date do you think they will shed velvet?
Hard horn when?
- Thread starter CliffordN
- Start date
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Getting closer but I'd say Sept for most.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Earliest I've seen hard-horn on camera would be last week of August. Latest I've seen velvet is last week of September.
As for rubs, just remember bucks rarely actually make a rub to take off their velvet. The velvet falls off on its own in a matter of hours. Rubs are a communication device between deer, but primarily between bucks. basically, rubs are pheromone wicks.
As for rubs, just remember bucks rarely actually make a rub to take off their velvet. The velvet falls off on its own in a matter of hours. Rubs are a communication device between deer, but primarily between bucks. basically, rubs are pheromone wicks.
Realtree56
Well-Known Member
BSK
Well-Known Member
Great pics Realtree56! Where were those pictures taken? Just curious, because velvet shedding dates vary by region.
Realtree56
Well-Known Member
Blount County… All of the other bucks I've ever had on camera have normally shed their velvet by September 12ish
BSK
Well-Known Member
Fascinating. Thanks much.
Normally, it's the older bucks that shed first and the yearlings are the latest to shed. I've seen yearlings still in velvet opening of bow season a couple of times. But a couple of years ago I got an older buck still in velvet in late September. If I remember correctly, he had shed by Oct. 1 though.
Normal velvet shedding in my area (western Highland Rim) is like you stated, first two weeks of September.
Realtree56
Well-Known Member
Like I said he's back this year, so I'll be keeping tabs on him and try to remember this thread when he sheds to see if he's late again
BSK
Well-Known Member
That would be very interesting.
I have no idea why, but I've noticed - as my clients first sets of baited photo census pictures come in - that buck antler growth seems advanced this year. In most years, many of the bucks have antlers that are still growing the first week of August (antler tips are still bulbous). But this year, just about every buck has antlers that have finished growing (tips down to points). No idea why this would occur.
kaizen leader
Well-Known Member
I don't see any velvet on this one but I do see a pissed off doe 
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.BSK
Well-Known Member
That buck is still in velvet.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
On cameras I've never seen one out of velvet til September 2nd. I killed one in velvet November 27 2021 but he only had 1 nut.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I've picked up a couple around Aug. 25-27 out of velvet, but the vast majority are Sept. 5-12.
ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER
Well-Known Member
I agree with the others,I am getting some night time pictures which look like they are losing the velvet, but I think it's just the darker image
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Average for us is all velvet off by mid September typically
peytoncreekhunter
Well-Known Member
Smith Co. is usually around September 7-10 by my trail camera pics.
AT Hiker
Well-Known Member
Every TN velvet deer I have handled (velvet hunt time frame) seemed to be ready to shed their velvet at any moment. No bulbous tips and no "live" veins. The hair/velvet at the bases are still connected though and the velvet still has a twist or a little give to it. About 25% of them have had velvet starting to peal, possibly due to falling an thrashing as it dies but I cannot say definitively.
I have seen many a KY velvet buck with hard antler bucks in mid September, same thing in Western River bottoms.
I have seen many a KY velvet buck with hard antler bucks in mid September, same thing in Western River bottoms.
