Whitetail Out of Velvet?

[Chief]

So I was doing some pre season scouting on some new land that I just received permission on east of Edmonton. I have never scouted this early before but spotted a nice 5x5 buck at about 150 yds. in a canola field. I watched him for almost ten minutes through the binos and he was completely velvet free. Is this normal for whitetails this time of year? Pretty new to hunting and just assumed I guess that they would still be in velvet...thanks for the help.

[killer18]

nope, hard time believing that

[twytter]

Originally Posted by Chief

So I was doing some pre season scouting on some new land that I just received permission on east of Edmonton. I have never scouted this early before but spotted a nice 5x5 buck at about 150 yds. in a canola field. I watched him for almost ten minutes through the binos and he was completely velvet free. Is this normal for whitetails this time of year? Pretty new to hunting and just assumed I guess that they would still be in velvet...thanks for the help.

oufff me too x2 nope, hard time believing that

[yoteblaster]

Usually during early bow season, I encounter numerous whitetails in full velvet. NEVER seen any velvet free deer in July. Not saying it doesn,t happen, I,ve just never seen it.

[Wile E.]

I just saw a little 5X5 in the ditch beside me yesterday in full velvet.

[Redfrog]

Sometimes they don't shed antlers because of hormone issues. could be he's packing from last year.

Or maybe he's on the list for one of those operations the Redford is sponsoring.

[ishootbambi]

i have serious doubts. look closer. sometimes velvet is shiny in the sun and looks like bone in the right light.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Sometimes they don't shed antlers because of hormone issues. could be he's packing from last year.

Or maybe he's on the list for one of those operations the Redford is sponsoring.

This....well most of it.

[ishootbambi]

^^^ i have seen that claim before, but have never seen proof of it. i have seen odd times for velvet shedding, usually traced to testicle injury or often in warmer US states, ticks, but never a buck not shedding antlers at all.

[sevenmil]

Originally Posted by Chief

So I was doing some pre season scouting on some new land that I just received permission on east of Edmonton. I have never scouted this early before but spotted a nice 5x5 buck at about 150 yds. in a canola field. I watched him for almost ten minutes through the binos and he was completely velvet free. Is this normal for whitetails this time of year? Pretty new to hunting and just assumed I guess that they would still be in velvet...thanks for the help.

In the book "The Deer of North America" by Leonard Lee Rue III, he talks about many different factors that can cause weird antler abnormalities. Some bucks retain their antlers from the previous year but I can't remember the circumstances that cause this. I believe testicular injury at a certain time. But don't quote me on that. This book is amazing, it answers just about any question you might have about deer.

[IR_mike]

After What I remember as a very mild winter followed by a very dry spring in the mid 90's I seen a good 160-170 wt with antlers in june.

He was with a doe kicking the sides of a old falling apart wooden granary the neighbor had oats in.

Was just in the yard and kept hearing loud banging noises, walked to the fenceline and thats what was makeing it.

IIRC it was seen in a few different deer in that same period

[Alberta Bigbore]

Just seen two nice bucks in the Henday/97st area in velvet the other day. Also seen a fawn with spots that must have been biffed by a car on hwy2.

[Chief]

Thanks guys, four of us looked through the binocs and none of us saw velvet. I'm going to hang a trail cam out there tomorrow and I'll see if I can get a pic. Every tine was crisp and sharp looking and the antlers looked darker than normal. It was way too early for me to be impared...

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

Sometimes they don't shed antlers because of hormone issues. could be he's packing from last year.

Or maybe he's on the list for one of those operations the Redford is sponsoring.

Yup, definately the Red Queen's doing.


Bucks may not shed antlers due to hormonal issues, from injury, disease, or even diet (poisoned).

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by ishootbambi

^^^ i have seen that claim before, but have never seen proof of it. i have seen odd times for velvet shedding, usually traced to testicle injury or often in warmer US states, ticks, but never a buck not shedding antlers at all.

Actually there is a buck that is/was well known inside Calgary City Limits.....I think it is Nose Hill Park that kept his antlers if he is still alive they might still be on....extremely bleached white. I was lucky to see him once with full hard horn early summer.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...nose+hill+buck

I think someone had a pic of him too.....found it

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...nose+hill+deer

LC

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Actually there is a buck that is/was well known inside Calgary City Limits.....I think it is Nose Hill Park that kept his antlers if he is still alive they might still be on....extremely bleached white. I was lucky to see him once with full hard horn early summer.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...nose+hill+buck

I think someone had a pic of him too.....found it

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...nose+hill+deer

LC

thats one im referring to..... pics taken in late april. thats a little late alright, but not ridiculously. funny he was seen every day in april, but by may and june nobody could get a pic. thats what i meant by no proof. ive seen plenty of pics of deer with velvet into november, but never one wearing hard antlers in may or june. im not saying its impossible, but i have never seen proof of it. to me its like hybrids. EVERYONE has a story, but nobody can prove it.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Yah it would be nice to see him now with those pearly white antlers. Be interesting to see if anyone here who lives in the area has seen him lately.

LC

[pottymouth]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Yah it would be nice to see him now with those pearly white antlers. Be interesting to see if anyone here who lives in the area has seen him lately.

LC

Seen him last Aug, with his pearly whites, busted up a couple of tines. Never saw him after that. There was a huge die off up there last year,or alot move off the hill. I don't think he made it. Never saw him all winter.

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by sevenmil

In the book "The Deer of North America" by Leonard Lee Rue III, he talks about many different factors that can cause weird antler abnormalities. Some bucks retain their antlers from the previous year but I can't remember the circumstances that cause this. I believe testicular injury at a certain time. But don't quote me on that. This book is amazing, it answers just about any question you might have about deer.

That is a great book. Everything you could possibly want to know about deer including how many hairs are on an average deer.

[Eze]

I say its possible. Wierd things happen. I seen an elk July 17th this year with no velvet. Many say bull**** but let them say what they want. I know what i saw and i have seen many male deer, elk and moose in my life.

If an animal didnt drop his antlers they would surely be beached white as you find them on the ground. Afew years back i seen an elk in may, a 2 point beached white from the weather and sun. he had only one side on