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Early Shed

Added 2 more tonight shed on one side just 3 days ago both sides in tact. So that makes 5, 3 completely 2 partially. And I've got 1 camera dead that takes a ton of pictures 70ish pictures a day. By far since we have started running cameras heavily that I have ever had this many this early. Usually it's one maybe 2 in January. It's just the first week.
 
Sako said:
It is very common in Knox county where I use to live to see the deer shed by the 1st of the year... almost every year.
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What do you consider common? One or two deer or a lot? Early March is common January is very uncommon at least where I live. It's a bad sign what we are picking up on cameras imo. I'm afraid it's worse than what we even thought on our places.
 
Gravey said:
I was trying to get to a shooting box around 2:00 and there was a half racked buck in the plot. Had he had a matching side would've been a pretty 8-pt that might've got shot. Oh well maybe he'll make it through the weekend and be bigger next year.
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To add to this yesterday after getting in the stand I saw another buck with both sides gone. Another guy hunting saw a big deer that had dropped both sides too.
 
This is all very disturbing news. I expect to see FAR below average antler development per age-class next year.
 
BSK said:
This is all very disturbing news. I expect to see FAR below average antler development per age-class next year.
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Bad thing and good thing we passed two of the biggest deer we have ever passed, because they had such an opportunity to truly be in the upper 150's to low 160's. I'm glad they have survived so far got pictures of both last night and the night before. But im afraid they may not put on the inches we thought. But who knows maybe we get lucky. I would assume an early good spring would or (could) offset some if not the majority of the issues we have right now? I have never seen the benefit or I guess the cost verse return of supplemental feeding but maybe a good option this year?
 
A friend of mine found a fresh shed in TN today. I saw a really nice buck on I40 on Monday a bit past the TN river standing by the first sign that says Bucksnort. Was a very nice 8-10 pointer with long G2s and G3s

Finally got to go for a ride today in Ohio and seen a really nice buck with what I would assume was a shed buck
 
deerhunter10 said:
What do you consider common? One or two deer or a lot? Early March is common January is very uncommon at least where I live. It's a bad sign what we are picking up on cameras imo. I'm afraid it's worse than what we even thought on our places.
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Every year at my house seeing deer already shed and finding sheds in the food plot... I shot a deer (good buck) the week of Christmas a few years ago (before Christmas but the week of Christmas) and both of his antlers fell off when he hit the ground
 
My buddy killed a 4.5 yo 8 point this afternoon and both antlers came off when he hit the ground. Buck was shot at 145pm in southern middle TN. Also had rutting activity occurring, bucks checking scrapes and tending does.
 
Is this out of the ordinary just wondering why this would be happening. Is it weather related. We've had some cold spells but nothing like the persistent cold like we normally have. Up and down roller coaster so far. I look for February- April to be rough cold
 
killingtime 41 said:
Is this out of the ordinary just wondering why this would be happening. Is it weather related. We've had some cold spells but nothing like the persistent cold like we normally have. Up and down roller coaster so far. I look for February- April to be rough cold
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The heat and drought of the summer and fall. The cold snap in December was just icing on the cake. I'm seeing the greatest signs of stress in the areas hit hardest by the drought and where the acorn crop failed. Less signs of stress in Eastern TN (Plateau region).
 
deerhunter10 said:
I would assume an early good spring would or (could) offset some if not the majority of the issues we have right now?
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No. Much of the resources that go into antler growth have to be in the buck's body before new antler growth starts in late April. That isn't to say summer food resources don't play a role in antler growth. But deer coming out of winter in poor shape will still display below average antler growth even if summer resources are great the following summer. And worse yet, fawns born this spring may be stunted for life, due to the processes of epigenetics. This is even true with humans. Children born during local famines underperform their entire lives, and because of epigenetics, can even pass this underperformance on to their offspring.

But I'm not going to worry about it too much. All of this is Nature's way. Life as a wild animal is very difficult, and the species deals with these conditions every decade or so. It will all come out in the wash.
 
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Harvested 1.7.2022 at 145pm. Other side pulled off when loading in truck.
 
Just killed a 4.5 yo 7 point last night at Cathole. Dressed 141 and his antlers were firmly attached.
 
BSK said:
All these reports are very disturbing. The deer ae in terrible shape. I sure hope we don't have too many more extended cold snaps.
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we killed three big bucks in hickman county. probably the biggest bodied deer I have killed in Tn. One big eight weighed 182 lbs field dressed.
 
January and February could be hard on them. Many of the big ag wheat fields appear to not have come back after the cold snap .
Even some of the wild fescue and poa Anna is struggling. On top of that there were no acorns, red or white in my areas. They usually still have some red oak acorns in January .
 

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