Still in velvet?

[BSK]

All bucks I have on camera at my place were still in velvet through the 12th. Got my first fully hard-horn the 15th. Got a yearling in the process of shedding the 16th. But got a 3 1/2 year-old 10-point still in full velvet the 17th.

Anyone else still seeing bucks in velvet?

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

Yes, saw my target buck last Friday the 16th still in full velvet. Brow tines looked like maybe the tips were bleeding alittle.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I may swap cards tomorrow mid morning. Last pull I had a couple bucks, they were still in velvet, have not gotten any that have shed yet.

 

[westtntoms]

Not to hijack your thread, but is there any normal pattern to shedding velvet? Like do younger bucks typically shed sooner or vice versa?

 

[tellico4x4]

Looked at 6 cards today that I pulled yesterday & not a hard horn to be seen. A couple of other guys said they got a couple though. Running a little late but still have some pregnant does as well...

 

[Andy S.]

Yes. Velvet, velvet hanging off and hard horn. Also picking up new bucks that have not been on camera this summer. Right on time here.

 

[rem270]

Got a pic of a small 8 in velvet this past Saturday. Seen a spike yesterday while hunting still in velvet.

 

[BSK]

Not to hijack your thread, but is there any normal pattern to shedding velvet? Like do younger bucks typically shed sooner or vice versa?

As a general rule, older bucks shed first. But there are always exceptions. Had a yearling in the midst of shedding his velvet on cam the 16th. Had a big 10-point 3 1/2 year-old the next morning didn't even look close to shedding yet.

Back when I bow hunted, I saw a couple of bucks still in velvet at bow-opener, but they were always yearlings.

 

[BSK]

Yes. Velvet, velvet hanging off and hard horn. Also picking up new bucks that have not been on camera this summer. Right on time here.

Picked up 6 new bucks on cam myself. As you said, right on time.

 

[Shed Hunter]

Picked up 6 new bucks on cam myself. As you said, right on time.

I always enjoy September. A lot of deer randomly pop up every year.

I've got a mixed bag on velvet vs shed

 

[Boll Weevil]

Taken this evening. In years past have deer holding velvet well into Oct…both young and old deer.

 

[ttf909]

Actually have several still in velvet .

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Taken this evening. In years past have deer holding velvet well into Oct…both young and old deer.

View attachment 149479

I have never seen velvet in October

 

[Flintlocksforme]

2 still in velvet.

 

[Knothead]

No velvet on my place.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

The biggest one ive been watching has finally shedded. He was on camera at 7:15 last night and was all hard horn.

 

[BSK]

When I pulled cards the 23rd, I didn't have any velvet pics.

 

[tree_ghost]

All hard horn now

 

[Andy S.]

I seen TN bucks killed this weekend still in velvet. Most were hard horn, but a few still holding.

 

[RUGER]

Saw 5 or 6 bucks at Tim's Ford this week while we were there.
They were all yearlings and all still in full velvet.

 

[BSK]

Saw 5 or 6 bucks at Tim's Ford this week while we were there.
They were all yearlings and all still in full velvet.

Interesting. On average, I find yearlings hold their velvet longest, but that definitely isn't a hard and fast rule.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Can't wait to check cameras. I plan on putting the rest of the cameras out this weekend. Now that I'm back from CO, I'm in full whitetail mode now. Especially after seeing this thread with hard horns

 

[Flintlocksforme]

Probably a late born fawn, he is running behind

 

[BSK]

Probably a late born fawn, he is running behind

I actually think velvet shedding dates are somewhat genetic. Some bucks start growing antlers late or shed velvet late, and they display the same pattern year after year.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

I saw one in the same age class with hard antlers on the velvet hunt

 

[BSK]

I saw one in the same age class with hard antlers on the velvet hunt

Every deer is unique. I'll see mature bucks that have finished growing their antlers in early August and those that are still putting on considerable growth at that time on the same property. I'll see bucks already growing new antlers in mid-April and those still carrying last year's antlers at that time on the same property.

 

[rem270]

I'm still seeing several small bucks in velvet. All my better bucks have been shed for 2 weeks now.

Buddy of mine sent a pic of a nice 8 yesterday and he was in the middle of shedding. I figure it's all gone today.

 

[wobblegobble]

All of mine just came this week, but a couple are still sporting the fuzz

 

[wobblegobble]

Every deer is unique. I'll see mature bucks that have finished growing their antlers in early August and those that are still putting on considerable growth at that time on the same property. I'll see bucks already growing new antlers in mid-April and those still carrying last year's antlers at that time on the same property.

Saw 5 or 6 bucks at Tim's Ford this week while we were there.
They were all yearlings and all still in full velvet.

In this area everything is at least 2 weeks late

 

[BSK]

Since this topic came up, I'm watching my clients trail-camera pictures. I want to see the earliest I see hard horns and the latest I see velvet.

And just after I told everyone it was my impression older bucks generally shed first with the youngest bucks being last, now that I'm keeping detailed track, that is NOT what I'm seeing in the data. Appears to be very random by age. Oh well, won't be the first time hard data proved impression wrong!