Can deer not shed ther antlers?

Submitted by DEB on 6/7/06 at 12:02 PM. ( nice_cookie08@hotmail.com ) 204.187.140.114

The other day I saw a buck with antlers in a parking lot and it's june. They ususally would have lost them by now. Is that normal? What would cause this to happen?

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They

This response submitted by . on 6/7/06 at 1:12 PM. ( ) 12.40.253.105

are in the growing phase right now.


rare but it happens

This response submitted by mark b on 6/7/06 at 4:36 PM. ( mx1499@hotmail.com ) 72.174.121.92

just saw a big long tined 2x2. last weekend. still had his horns from last year. everything else here <colorado> i have seen is in velvet. no deer expert . but i have seen this a couple of times now. im sure some of the experts on here have an explination?


Where's Yox when you need him?

This response submitted by marty on 6/7/06 at 4:46 PM. ( ) 24.15.109.214

This has been discussed before. If I remember correctly it all has to do with hormones and testosterone or something like that with some deer...


Those would be stags

This response submitted by Evelyn on 6/7/06 at 5:13 PM. ( ) 152.163.100.130

a stag is a buck who never sheds his antlers. He just keeps growing them. In most cases, I believe, this is caused by an injury to either one or both of the testicles of the deer. This messes up their hormonal balance. I am pretty sure Bill Yox knows more about this then me and he can explain it better.


they will fall off soon

This response submitted by Mr.T on 6/7/06 at 6:52 PM. ( ) 64.31.6.88

check the orange button, we went over this before. But they will fall off when the new ones start. They could be very late born fawns behind cycle, but I think Bill Yox says that it is a hormone thing out of whack. Check the archive, I know it's in there.
I saw racks in May before. It's nothing new.


as long

This response submitted by John M on 6/7/06 at 10:49 PM. ( ) 24.196.153.112

as there is a doe in heat a buck won't lose its antlers


Im not sure what I know, really

This response submitted by Bill Yox on 6/7/06 at 11:40 PM. ( ) 67.138.8.86

I know when a buck carries antlers into April, hes late, and thats most likely a hormone "hang up". But this late, Im not sure. Even female deer with antlers Ive ever seen shed, or continued velvet growth year 'round. I can say with some certainty that its NOT because of a doe still being in heat, though. Bucks in captivity, at least, have been known to breed successfully after shedding antlers. I would ask questions about the pituitary gland as well as the age of the deer. Again, I must step aside on this as I really dont know, and I dont know of anyone who IS sure on this!


I know Bill

This response submitted by terry v on 6/9/06 at 12:13 AM. ( ) 64.112.203.140

maybe the buck was in a pickup truck and was mounted. lol


This April I saw an eight point that had recent fight marks

This response submitted by Robert on 7/3/06 at 1:12 AM. ( ) 205.188.116.5


This April I saw an 8 point w/ 12-13" spread on a ranch I work on here in Central Texas standing next to a buck that already had new
horns coming in. What amazed me was the buck with the new velvet
blobs was in good shape, acted content and relaxed while
the 8 point had fresh signs of fighting, his hide was nicked
and slashed and he was run down and acted spooky like at the end of the rut. That means there was another buck somewhere that fought him, in April!


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