Fresh Mulie Shed

YH · Dec 25, 2005

Hey all,
Went out today(christmas) to watch a few bucks. I saw this buck right off the bat and watched him for a few mins:

After watching him for a few mins I was shocked to see him shake his head and his left antler fell off! I have never witnessed this before! I also couldn't believe they were shedding this early. They usually do not shed around here till end of Feb. early march (Rock Springs Wyoming). The winter has been very mild also. After the buck fed over the hill I went up to get my christmas "gift". Here is how I found it laying:

pic of the base:

The buck later on shedded his other antler, but I did not go pick it up because there were a lot of deer in the same draw and I didn't want to spook them out of there. Even though the winter has been very mild (almost no snow) I still didn't want to push 'em all around. I'll go back this next week and get the match and the post 'em.

Merry Christmas!

EL

oneguymontana · Dec 25, 2005

another guy said the muleys were droppin in Wash.... I've been out chasing moose with no luck yet....

sage_mule · Dec 25, 2005

I watched three bucks taking turns sparring from my porch in Boise yesterday. Prancing around with their tales up in the air like whitetails. Still packing for now.

antlerfool · Dec 25, 2005

you get the other side and that is going to be a pretty nice lookin set. makes me want to go looking for sheds!

Droptine25 · Dec 25, 2005

every buck I've seen so far here in Boise still packin but going out all day tommorow just to hopefully find one or two. By the way awsome shed just dont forget to go back and get the other one
Foster

kilowatt · Dec 25, 2005

Ernesto,

That was some good Christmas luck there for you alright, great pictures as well. Just hope no one saw where you went and picked this one up or they might not wait.

Brian

littleBRINK · Dec 25, 2005

is this early for them to shed?

Longun · Dec 26, 2005

The earliest I found a Mule Deer shed is 28 Dec and it was about the same size as the one pictured above. So they are are on schedule. The big bruisers will be dropping in the next couple of weeks.

sneak · Dec 26, 2005

I used to think the bruisers went first too, and in general, they do. BUT, this year I've already seen three little fellers with one antler shed, and found one of the sheds while coyote hunting. And last spring I closely watched one of the "bruisers" from the end of the rut through prime shedding time and saw literally every other buck go bald before the end of February. But the big guy held his antlers until March 9, then dumped them both jumping a fence. Just when you think you've got them figured out....

Torch · Dec 26, 2005

YH,

That's a great find, but I think it's even more impressive that you didn't go and pick up the other antler. Many people would have picked it up regardless of whether or not they pushed the deer. It's too bad all shed hunters don't have your ethics. Good job!

SM

eburgtrapper · Dec 27, 2005

I live in the center of washington. I went out yesterday to look for some deer. Saw only a couple bucks, but found two sheds, a 2 and a 4 point. Very surprising being this early.

JD