Only good deer I seen in 2023

[grunt'n gator]

Shot him on Dec 22nd around 10 AM. Came slowly limping up through the woods eating. He had a old scar around his back leg. One of his horns popped off as we loaded him on the fourwheeler, and the other when we loaded him in the truck.

 

[huvrman]

Strange the horns came off.

 

[grunt'n gator]

Strange the horns came off.

Kind of what I thought.

 

[tn24]

I've read injuries can cause the antlers to drop early.

 

[Huntaholic]

Injuries, stress, lack of nutrition, etc.... can all cause a deer to "shed early".

 

[wsm]

Congrats on your buck ,I saw one buck all season wish now I had taken a shot.

 

[rem270]

Congrats!

 

[Remington700]

Never had them come off early in TN. Know up North that they will pop off while dragging, etc early. Like mentioned earlier, I bet stress, nutrition, etc.

 

[Crappieaddict]

Nice buck! Congrats!

 

[Gravey]

Congrats!!!

 

[Wrangler95]

Nice buck,congrats!!

 

[BSK]

Strange the horns came off.

Not at all. The buck was stressed from his old injury. Antler drop timing is partially driven by individual animal health. Bucks in great shape will hold antlers until March or even early April. Stressed bucks can drop their antlers as early as mid to late December.

 

[Union Co. Boy]

Nice buck! What rifle are you using there?

 

[MickThompson]

I've picked up sheds before new years before.

Here's a pic of the only good buck I saw this year

 

[Wooden Arrow]

i've seen bucks with antlers during turkey season in 'bama.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Nice buck. Congratulations.

 

[Acorn]

Nice buck, Congratulations!

 

[Snake]

Congrats on a nice buck .

 

[woodsman04]

Not at all. The buck was stressed from his old injury. Antler drop timing is partially driven by individual animal health. Bucks in great shape will hold antlers until March or even early April. Stressed bucks can drop their antlers as early as mid to late December.

Exactly.

I have never seen them drop in December or January. But I've found sheds or seen plenty of half racks in February.
On numerous occasions I've seen bucks with both sides in turkey season. I've also seen bucks with nubs starting back in turkey season.

Whitetail antlers are so neat. Just wish I could get my hands on bigger sets more than once every fifth or sixth November/ December hahahaha

 

[grunt'n gator]

Nice buck! What rifle are you using there?

CVA Cascade 6.5 PRC