Still in 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!