The other day I wrote about shed antler hunting and told you I knew the shedding was starting a little early this year due to the rough weather we have experienced this December.  Actually its probably been a pretty normal December but with so many mild winters over the past 10 years it seems harsh.  Today I grabbed cards out of my game cameras (yes on Christmas Day) expecting to get a few photos of bucks that had shed already.  I was right too.  I found this guy on my first camera card and it was just taken early this morning on the 25th as you can see by the time stamp.  I took a bit of the photo out at 100% so you could better see the pediciles where the antlers used to be in the next photo. 

Pay careful attention during these last days of hunting season.  Look for the physical characteristics of a buck before you choose to harvest an animal thinking it is a doe.  Certainly the choice is yours but at this time 711 shed antler bucks have been harvested in Iowa this year.  For the meat hunter I respect your choices, after all it is about the experience but for someone that was working to bring your buck to doe ratio into balance this can be a costly mistake.  Look for that shorter and stuby neck of a buck or the more round head of the doe.  Older bucks will have a more rounded belly.  Most likely if you are seeing a single deer at this time of year it is going to be a buck so if it does not have antlers pay close attention.

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CONTACT JASON     Cell Phone: 402.250.1006  Email: Jason@gowithjason.com  

Jason's Websites:  Loess Hills Land For Sale 

Whitetail Trophy Properties

Smith Auction Marketing - Iowa Auctioneer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Smith is a Land Specialist and Real Estate Auctioneer with Whitetail Trophy Properties.   Jason offers property listings as well as land auctions in Iowa.  As a sportsman himself Jason enjoys archery and muzzleloader hunting for whitetail deer.  In college Jason studied Fish and Wildlife Biology and specializes in rural properties only including Iowa hunting land, recreational land, farms and rural building lots.  Jason also manages over 260 acres of hunting land using QDM.  As a member of the (QDMA)   Quality Deer Management Association  he has joined ranks with whitetail enthusiasts across the United States in controlling and growing a healthy whitetail population for all to enjoy.   Jason is a member of the Iowa Auctioneers Association, National Auctioneers Association.