MuleyMadness Hunting Forums

Been watchin these bucks all still packin though

looks good! i am getting excited to get out, not much snow makes it seems like its time.... but needs a bit more

tonight, on my way home from work, i saw 3 bucks together- 1 had already dropped 1 horn. it got me excited, but where they were at is all private. but if he dropped - it wont be long! ( if i can get some time off work...)

i saw two bucks on the way home last nighta as well....both still packing both sides

still packin in my neck of the woods also. Nice pics.

I'm not very well educated on shed hunting, but all these bucks still packing antler begs a couple questions (in my opinion):
Is this an indication of the bucks physical condition?
Do they hang onto antler if they are in really good shape? Let them go early if they are in poor shape? Or the other way around?
Or is it still a touch early & we're just coming to the time of year when they all drop?

I saw 2 moose still packing also and they are usually dropped by now

now thats what i need to learn to find is moose horns that would be sweet

Derek,

I've wondered that myself. It's been a very mild winter here (not complaining at all), and the little bucks are dropping, but the bigger boys are still packing. What I would consider a "normal" time frame (and only by my personal gathering experience) for our area, is around the middle of Feb. I've watched elk hang on to their antlers clear up to the end of April. (That year we had way more snow and colder temps.) Do they retain the antlers for nutritional value?

Bonehead,

I've seen a small bull moose a few times up near Old Folks Flat. No idea where you'd find him this time of year. He's not a bruiser, but would be cool to have just the same.