When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky?

When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky
3. A pair of binoculars, boots, and a pedometer (yes, this does include movement and the burning of calories!). – The sport of shed hunting takes hunters into the forests and out into the countryside. When you locate your first animal shed, you’ll realize how much you’ve improved your understanding of wild animals and the routines they follow.

But you’ll get some exercise, too.
The pedometer that Reeve used to keep track of the kilometers he traveled while shed-hunting revealed that he typically walked between 15 and 20 miles each day. Not bad.
Boots are essential for keeping feet dry and toasty in the winter since woods and fields are typically moist during this season.

Shed-hunters can cover more land and move more quickly with the use of binoculars. When glassing a hayfield or the forest floor, it’s possible that you may miss a few minor shed antlers, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to locate antlers of a fair size.

What is the best time to go shed hunting in Kentucky?

When to Start Shed Hunting – The desire to get outside and start shed hunting has already been fueled by social media. People are beginning to locate a shed here and there, but the majority of the dollars have not yet dropped. It’s a terrible omen for the deer that lost its antlers if you detect sheds in December or the beginning of January, so keep an eye out for them.

According to Mark Drury, who works with Drury Outdoors, the manner in which antlers fall off and the time frame in which it occurs is often a good measure of a buck’s overall health.
You don’t want to get a head start on looking for sheds too soon.
If you start those shed drives too early and the antlers aren’t yet off their heads, you are putting stress on the bucks, and you will force them to an area where you won’t be able to find the shed antlers.

You are going to end up driving those deer onto your neighbor’s property. Using trail cameras, you may determine when the optimal time is to go shed hunting with their assistance. You should hold off on going shed hunting until your photographs demonstrate that 60–70% of the bucks caught on camera do not have antlers.

Have a conversation with other hunters to learn what they are seeing on the images captured by their cameras.
The peak of the shedding season often occurs around the end of February or the beginning of March.
By this point, the majority of the bucks will have lost both of their antlers.
Because the winter in Kentucky has been quite mild so far, you may anticipate that most bucks will keep their antlers for a little bit longer.

The later in the year that they give birth, the healthier the deer. It is not unusual to see bucks keeping their antlers throughout the month of April.

When should I start looking for deer sheds?

When to Go Shed Hunting “GENERALLY” Before we can talk about when you should go shed hunting “generally,” you need to have an understanding of why sheds are falling to the ground at the times that they are. Why and when are easy questions to answer; the timing is determined by the photoperiod.

Photoperiod is a key factor in determining when a buck should shed his antlers, much as it is in the formation of velvet, the rut, the loss of fawns, and the majority of other aspects of a deer’s existence.
This means that the best time to go shed hunting for the majority of us is between the months of February and March.

However, there are always going to be bucks that drop either extremely early or very late, sometimes even extending into the beginning of April. In addition to photoperiod, other factors, such as social stress, injuries, harsh winters, or inadequate nourishment, can and will influence the moment at which a buck actually sheds his antlers.

When determining the dates on which you should begin shed hunting on your properties, these and other relevant considerations are discussed in the video that may be seen below. Although it is beneficial to have a fundamental understanding of how the shed process works, this knowledge does not answer the issue of when you should begin the procedure in its entirety.

Beyond the broad concept of shed hunting, the next section and video will go into the specifics, specifically addressing the question of whether or not you should take precautions.

What month is best for shed hunting?

When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers? – The traditional beginning of the shed hunting season is in February, and the season lasts through the middle to the end of March. Sheds may be discovered at any time of the year, but the best time to find them is during the spring gobbler season, provided that the rodents have not yet destroyed every last one of them.

However, the months of February and March are the most important ones for shed searching. Even though testosterone is the primary component that determines whether or not antlers fall off, there are a number of other things that can have an effect on the way that testosterone levels might alter. It is possible for a buck to have decreased levels of testosterone as a result of the stress caused by environmental circumstances such as harsh winter cold, as well as contributing factors such as inadequate nourishment or injury.

As a result, the timing of when bucks lose their antlers is accelerated. Bucks that lose their antlers earlier than February are often more mature and dominating than those that do so later in the year. Because of their dominance, these bucks are more likely to become involved in the rut sooner and for a longer length of time than younger and less mature males, and as a result, they are more likely to lose their antlers earlier.

As a consequence of this, they are at risk of being left exhausted after the rut and stressed to the point where they lose their antlers sooner than other bucks in the vicinity.
On the other hand, a late antler drop may be the result of a number of other factors.
To begin, an imbalance in the deer population might provide an environment in which certain does are unable to become pregnant during the height of the rut.

Does are continuing to have their young even after the second rut has ended in these severely imbalanced deer populations. Bucks keep their testosterone levels elevated in these regions, which causes them to delay the shedding of their antlers until the end of March or the beginning of April.

The second thing that will happen is that first-year fawns that achieve the breeding weight during their first winter will start their estrous cycle.
This often takes place quite some time after the height of the rut and is, in many areas, the primary factor that drives the second rut.
Again, circumstances such as these will keep bucks high in testosterone for a longer period of time, which will postpone the process of shedding.

Last but not least, a delay in the shedding of antlers can occur when there is intense rivalry for does. Mature bucks that have to spare their sperm more frequently in order to breed does generate more testosterone, which causes them to lose their antlers later in life.

How long do deer sheds last?

The actual process of shedding the antlers can take anywhere from two to three weeks, but the actual falling off of the antlers can take as little as twenty-four to forty-eight hours. After that, fresh antlers will grow back over the course of the summer.

Do coyotes eat deer sheds?

The most typical perpetrators are rodents like mice, squirrels, and porcupines; nonetheless, scientists have seen wolves, coyotes, and even bears gnawing through sheds.

Why can’ti find deer sheds?

The wrong time is when you go shed searching, and this is by far the most common error that people do. If you are not finding any antlers, it is likely that you are either looking too early or too late. Eager hunters drive the deer off the land before they shed their antlers, which causes the deer to get disheartened and prevents them from returning to the forest later, when the sheds are truly there to be discovered.

Waiting till the last minute is an even worse idea. Someone else, whether it be trespassers or squirrels, has beaten you to the sheds. It is unfortunate to have to tell you this, but trespassers are able to and will continue to take advantage of the off season. A smorgasbord awaits you if you are under the impression that you are not on the property when the weather is chilly, and it’s not only sheds.

How much are deer sheds worth?

Prices of Shed Antlers and the Market for Them – What is the value of shed antlers given that we know how the different grades are assigned to them? It is essential to keep in mind that the real price for each grade will differ depending on the buyer’s location.

This is because of a very big number of elements, one of which being the state of the market during that specific year. The swings in supply and demand, in addition to other factors, will cause each antler buyer and location to be unique. Antlers from brown elk often fetch anywhere from $12 to $16 per pound when put up for sale.

Chalk costs an average of $1 to $3 per pound, but hard whites range from $8 to $11 per pound. The price of brown deer sheds may range anywhere from $10 to $14 per pound, the price of hard whites could be anywhere from $6 to $8, and the price of chalks could be anywhere from $1 to $2.

What month do bucks shed their antlers?

Between the months of late November and late December, they shed their antlers, each of which may weigh up to 40 pounds on its own. The antlers of mule and white-tailed deer begin to fall off about the middle of December, although some deer don’t completely shed them until early April.

Where are deer sheds most likely to be found?

Now is the moment to get your hands on his antlers if you haven’t already done so yet this year! The antlers will not be linked to the deer, but the joy of finding his favorite gems can bring some sense of accomplishment and closure to the year. The most you will learn about him is that he is still alive and will hopefully get bigger the following year.

There is one thing that is for certain, during this lag period for the die-hard whitetail fan, there isn’t too much else to do, so why not hop back into the woods and seek for some deer sheds to occupy your time? The pursuit of sheds may either be a very fulfilling experience or a very challenging one.

Some hunters feel like they’ve been slapped in the face for the second time when they don’t even discover a single shed! Those hunters aren’t really looking in the correct spots the vast majority of the time. You should approach shed hunting in the same manner that you would approach deer hunting; there is not much of a difference between the two, with the exception of the behaviors of deer in late winter.

Because of this, it is essential that you are aware of both when to look and, more crucially, where to look. Around this time, between the months of January and March, deer start to lose their antlers. Whitetail deer spend the most of their time throughout the cold months attempting to take in as much heat as they possibly can.

On those really chilly late-season days, we bless the sunrays, and the deer do the same thing. For this reason, bedding and cover, particularly that which faces south, should be your first priority while looking for shed antlers. It is almost as though deer transform themselves from mammals into reptiles and bask in the sun like snakes in order to get themselves ready for when they are finally able to go on feeding expeditions.

The next item on the agenda is where they will go. Food sources that are available throughout the winter include beans, corn, brassica vegetables, and browse. The paths going to and returning from a standing bean field are a good place to look for sheds; also, the food itself is something that should be investigated.

If the crops are destroyed, you will need to learn about the remaining food sources, scout them out, formulate hypotheses about them, and then put those hypotheses to the test. In the event that neither of these locations yield any results, inspect the obstructions in the funnels where the deer are forced to jump or duck.

There are several sites where sheds are likely to be found hanging about, including creeks, fences, ditches, roadways, and large branches that overhang.
It only takes a slight shock or bump in the right direction for them to fall.
Here are some last-minute pointers: when you first start to identify sheds, begin making circles and gradually expand their radius.

This is because you will frequently discover a concentration of sheds in a single location. If you have more than one piece of property, start with the areas that see the least amount of foot traffic first because those areas frequently become safe havens for deer once the shooting is over.

Get out of there early because the last thing you want to find in your favorite area is an antler that has been partially eaten or, even worse, the footprints and impression of a shed that was only recently picked up by an intruder. Get out of the house already! Far too many people allow their lethargy and the chilly air keep them inside.

Sheds are as valuable as white gold and are the precious jewels of the buck that you have been seeking for the entirety of the season. Don’t let him slip away again. Get your start in the most advantageous areas, the regions where it is most possible that you will discover your own own goldmine, and amass a fortune in bone!

Why don’t you find antlers in the woods?

If a male deer loses his antlers once a year, why do we not come across more shed antlers when we go into the woods? Answer After the mating season has over and the male deer are no longer required to compete with one another for females, the males begin to shed their antlers.

The shed of antlers occurs typically during the winter months, although can occur earlier in the spring in warmer climes.
When a deer is in poor health, when food is short, or for any number of other reasons, its antlers may fall off earlier than normal.
It can be difficult to differentiate shed antlers from falling branches when they are camouflaged by elements like as leaves that have fallen from the trees in the fall, snow, or sprouting grasses and other plants in the spring.

Antlers, once they have fallen to the ground, become fair game for wild creatures, including squirrels, opossums, coyotes, and bears. These animals will gnaw on discarded antlers as a source of calcium, phosphorus, protein, and other nutrients since they are a good supply of antlers.

Follow deer tracks and check for barriers like fallen branches, boulders, bushes, and so on that may assist a deer in losing its antlers.
Looking for shed antlers requires looking for locations where male deer often lay or eat during the shedding season.
If a deer needs to leap over anything in order to cross a barrier, such as a creek or a fence, that barrier may also be a site where shed antlers can be found.

This is because the act of jumping can sometimes aid to loosen antlers that are in the process of falling off.

Can I give my dog a deer antler I found in the woods?

When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky The so-called “treats” that are commonly given to dogs might really present significant dangers to their health. Bones made of rawhide are difficult to digest and have the potential to induce fatal blockages in the digestive tract. The question now is, what about antlers? Continue reading to learn whether or not it is okay for your dog to chew on antlers.

Should dogs chew on antlers, and is it really safe for them to do so? The simple answer is yes, antlers are okay for dogs to chew on, and they should feel free to do so.
Antlers from animals like deer and elk are believed to be safer than rawhide for canines to chew on.
This is mostly owing to the fact that they do not splinter readily and are a completely natural product.

In compared to other types of dog chews, antlers provide a reward that lasts an exceptionally long time. You also have the option of getting your dog a set of or antlers. Antlers can be purchased whole or split. Whole antlers are whole antler segments, whereas split antlers have been chopped in half lengthwise to expose the marrow.

Dogs’ teeth are less likely to be damaged by split antlers.
We recommend beginning with split antlers so that dogs have better access to the soft marrow center of the antler, and then progressing to full antlers for dogs who are aggressive chewers.
The type of chewer your dog is will determine which option is best for him.

When giving your dog a treat of any kind, it is essential to keep a close eye on them while they gnaw in order to ensure that they develop healthy chewing habits. What are the advantages of giving your dog chews made of antler? They supply essential nutrients.

Antlers are a naturally occurring source of protein as well as the amino acids, and unlike rawhide bones, they are not processed in any way. They are only gathered, cleaned, and sliced after being harvested. They are not subjected to any harsh chemicals or dyes at any point in the production process. Antlers are a rich source of naturally occurring nutrients, including zinc, phosphorus, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, among others, as well as magnesium and potassium.

Due to the high amount of protein that they contain, owners should not allow their dogs to chew more than a half an inch or so every day. If they do, their stomachs may become upset. They are able to endure. Antlers are a natural dog chew that is both compassionate and sustainable, which is something that animal lovers will enjoy.

Because elk and deer antlers are shed naturally once a year, these chews do not involve any form of animal cruelty. These chews are better for the environment since deer continually produce new antlers, which makes them more sustainable (as well as biodegradable). They do not have any smell. Treats made of antlers do not have any odor on their own; but, as your dog nibbles on them, their saliva will leave a faint scent behind.

Always make sure to keep an eye on your dog while they are chewing, and make sure they are using the antler in a way that is healthy and safe for them. They have a lengthy lifespan. Endure but not least, the antlers will last a very long time for your dog.

The typical longevity of an antler chew can range anywhere from three quarters of a year to a whole year. Having said that, the answer to this question will depend on the size of the antler, how it was cut, how tough the center of the antler is, and how aggressively your dog chews. Our revamped antler program makes certain that every dog is provided with the appropriate sort of antler to chew on, taking into account the dog’s size as well as their propensity for chewing.

Are there any potential dangers that come with giving a dog antlers? Antlers, like any other type of chew, can present specific dangers to dogs. When purchasing an antler chew for your dog, there are a few things you should bear in mind, despite the fact that it is a safer and more compassionate alternative to rawhide chews.

Because antlers are so tough, it is possible for your dog to damage their teeth or gums if they chew on them too vigorously. This may be prevented by purchasing split antlers for first-time chewers and keeping a close eye on your dog while it chews to ensure that it is not exerting too much force while chewing.

In addition to this, make sure that you monitor the growth of the antler over time. Throw it away whenever it gets to be relatively little to prevent it from developing into something that might become a choking hazard. Antlers are a more significant financial commitment than other chews, but they also endure for a significantly longer period of time.

Antlers are an excellent value when one considers how long they last in comparison to other types of chews on the market. The bare essentials In general, antlers are non-hazardous chews that may be given to your dog as long as you keep an eye on them. They are a chew that does not include the use of any animals, are sustainable, and have a long shelf life for your dog.

Antlers from animals such as elk and deer are an excellent natural source of protein as well as a wide variety of other essential elements for dogs. If you are confused about the sort of antler to purchase or whether or not an antler chew would be beneficial for your pet, it is best to seek the advice of your veterinarian.

What month do bucks shed their antlers?

Where should I look when shed hunting?

When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky How to Identify Shed Antlers and Where to Find Them – Antlers that have been shed can be discovered in three primary regions that are connected to the habitat of wildlife: 1. The sleeping quarters Bedding areas are often regions that are characterized by dense cover and serve as a place for animals to spend a significant portion of each day sleeping and hiding from potential dangers.

When it comes to deer and other large game, they have a propensity to lie down in thickets of tall grass, dense brush, or highly forested pockets of timber. When winter arrives, these kinds of animals have a tendency to choose slopes that face south so that they may maximize the amount of sunshine that touches their bodies, so increasing their external body heat and conserving their energy.2.

Places where animals are fed In most cases, the process of shedding occurs approximately a month or two following the rut, about the same time when bucks, exhausted from the demands of the rut, begin looking for sources of concentrated food. It makes perfect sense to begin your search in the vicinity of feeding locations and continue it there.

Agricultural fields, food plots, cutovers, orchards, and oak ridges or bottoms with late-producing mast trees are all examples of these types of habitats.
You should seek for borders with dips, depressions, heads of ravines, and low sites that are protected from the predominant winds.
These are all examples of bedding areas, and they are frequently reliable huge shed producers.

Feeding areas and the areas surrounding them are good places to look.3. Travel corridors Generally speaking, travel corridors are defined as the paths that go away from feeding regions and towards more densely populated areas of bedding. When searching for shed antlers in these locations, be on the lookout for any spot where a deer must jump over or across anything, such as a fence, as this might cause the antlers to get dislodged.

You may find these hotspots by means of reconnaissance, which will put you on the right road to collect the bulk of the antlers on a piece of property. It is preferable to look for antlers in bedding cover later in the day since this is the time of day when deer are most likely to leave known bedding cover to explore food sources.

Follow the tracks into the deep cover, and keep your eyes out for beds and other spots that deer frequent to escape the harsh winter cold. Both steep slopes that face south and thick cover are attractive to deer because they provide winter respite. You may also consider offering local deer some supplementary food if you own or manage your own land and have access to it.

Eeping them in close proximity to a particular source of food raises the likelihood that they will shed their antlers in easily accessible areas.
Check the regulations that your state has for the feeding of wildlife, and come up with a plan that not only offers the finest nourishment for deer but also lasts the whole winter.

You don’t want to establish a meal habit for deer only to have to cut it off all of a sudden while winter might still be causing them discomfort. Your plan has to contain provisions such as hay bales, mineral supplements, and food that is nutritionally sound for deer.

Minerals like as calcium and phosphorus can aid in future antler growth in addition to helping does prepare to feed newborn fawns, therefore supplemental feeding should never take the place of an overall balanced diet.
When you are looking for feeding fields, you should attempt to acquire height by climbing to the top of a hill, getting into a tree stand, or even using the roof of your truck to look down.

Examine the area with a pair of binoculars with an 8- or 10-power magnification and check for sparkling white patches or antler tips. When going on a trip in the woods, binoculars come in quite helpful for spotting “suspicious” antlers from a distance rather than having to physically check them.

In addition to food plots and harvested fields, it is important not to forget about hayfields and haystacks that have been preserved for the purpose of feeding cattle throughout the winter. When looking for shed antlers, use everything you can discover that can give you an advantage over other hunters.

Shed antler hunting is another activity that may be added to the list of reasons that justify the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). If the landowners give you permission, you can drive your ATV across harvested fields to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.

How far apart do deer shed their antlers?

3. Species: Mule Deer – Location: Northern Element of Montana Elliott Garfield, an experienced deer and elk hunter who has spent many years in the Missouri River Breaks and Montana’s Hi-Line When I go hunting for huge mule deer sheds, I usually wait until around the second week of March before I start looking.

When I go shed hunting, I take the same technique that I do when I go hunting for large mule deer in the fall.
I keep an eye on the wind and try to get a good peek on the locations where the deer spend the winter.
If I chase those deer out of their primary wintering regions, there’s no knowing where they’ll shed their antlers.

Because of this, I don’t want to bump those bucks, partially because they don’t need to be stressed after a difficult winter and partly because I don’t want to risk losing their antlers. A collection that is complete. Elliot Garfield The most experienced deer are the first to fall.

I believe that’s because they’re under a lot of pressure due to the rut they’re in.
However, there are years when I’ll locate larger bucks who are still bearing both sets of antlers far into the middle of March.
In most cases, I begin a shed hunt by positioning myself on top of a prominent ridge with my optics.

I use a tripod to support a pair of 12×50 binoculars, and then I just examine the surrounding area. I’m searching for anything that’s symmetrical, and as soon as I discover something that strikes my attention, I train my spotting scope on it to make sure it’s an antler.

You will be able to tell the difference between an antler and a scraggly tree limb once you have trained your eye to look for the Y fork of an antler, as well as a large brow tine or main beam.
When the winter has been very harsh and there has been a lot of snow, I begin glassing south-facing slopes.

The grassy bottoms of draws, the ridgetops, and the spiky fingers of rocky ridges are all possible locations for sheds following a mild winter. Sheds can even be found in the rocky ridges themselves. But one of the areas where I discover them the most frequently is in the thicket of matted junipers that are located next to a dirt flat or an open ridge.

I have a really dogged determination to track for complementary couples. If I come across one strong team, I will spend the following week or more seeking for a suitable opponent for them. Year after year, both of the antlers will fall off of some bucks virtually directly on top of one other. On the other hand, there are deer that will shed their antlers anywhere from 100 to 400 yards apart from one another.

Different individual bucks have their own unique patterns of shedding. A single buck’s sheds from three different years were previously stacked nearly on top of each other when I discovered them. When I locate one shed, it’s a safe bet that there are more within a radius of 400 yards around that particular location. When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky

What time of year do deer grow antlers?

When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky How antlers develop – Each year, deer will grow new antlers and then lose their old ones. Late April is the traditional time when males will start developing a fresh set of antlers. The pedicle, which is the antler’s developing base and is linked to the skull, is where growth first begins (see Figure 2).

Hormones, which are controlled by photoperiod, are responsible for the regulation of antler development (day length).
The antler growth cycle overlaps with the mating season, which means that by the time males are ready to assert their dominance over other males and secure their right to reproduce, their antlers will already be fully developed (Figure 5).

The lengthening of the day is correlated with a decrease in the synthesis of the hormone melatonin, which starts the hormone cycles that are responsible for antler development. Antlers have a highly abundant blood supply and are coated with a hairy covering that is widely known as velvet during the late spring and summer months (Figure 6).

Antlers are especially susceptible to damage while they are “in velvet;” any scratches or bruises sustained while they are in this state almost always result in the antlers becoming misshapen. Growing antlers have a large proportion of water and a relatively modest amount of dry substance. At this point in the process, the percentages of protein and ash in the dry matter fraction are as follows: 80% protein, 20% ash (primarily calcium and phosphorus).

By August, the rate of development has slowed down, and the antlers have begun to mineralize, also known as becoming harder. The process of growth is finished by the end of August or the beginning of September, and blood supply to the antlers stops. This action kicks off the drying of the velvet, which is subsequently either rubbed off or sloughed off, resulting in antlers that are smooth and polished throughout the breeding season.

The shedding of the velvet happens quickly, typically in a span of less than 24 hours. The velvet will detach on its own, but you may hasten the process by rubbing the antlers on tiny woody bushes or even tall grass. This will cause the velvet to shed more quickly. Males in good health are able to keep their calcified antlers throughout the whole mating season (Figure 7).

Because hardened antlers contain a large proportion of dry materials but a relatively low amount of water, their composition shifts throughout time. About sixty percent of the antler’s dry matter composition is made up of ash, while the other forty percent is made up of protein.

After the breeding season is through, cells begin to de-mineralize the bone that is located between the pedicle and the antler.
This weakens the connection that the antler has with the skull, which ultimately results in the antler falling off.
The timing of when antlers fall off might vary from year to year, but during a typical season, some males lose their antlers in late December, and the majority of them do so by early March.

New antler growth begins as soon as a deer loses its old set, even though the new growth may not be evident for many weeks after the deer has shed its antlers. Due they have a high protein content, an abundance of calcium phosphate, and are swiftly devoured by rodents, shed antlers are typically difficult to discover in the woods.

This is because of the three factors. Because the antler growth cycle of white-tailed deer corresponds with the mating season (see Figure 5), individual males can utilize their antlers to assert their dominance over other bucks. Figure 6: A male white-tailed deer whose antlers are at the velvet stage of their development.

Figure 7 demonstrates that male white-tailed deer will have firm antlers by the time velvet has been lost in the fall and early winter. When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers In Kentucky