Roe bucks antlers fell off !

[TringSaint]

I thought I would post about what happened this morning as it was incredibly strange and new to me!,
We were out stalking some arable land This morning we got on the ground about an hour and a quarter before sunrise, we quickly dropped onto a heat source and stalked up the hedge, We could see clearly through the thermal that we had roe buck on his own , But sunrise wasn’t quite with us so we just tucked in to the hedge and waited but kept assessing the buck, we Noticed that he was consistently giving his head a shake!. As Daylight came we could see clearly through the binoculars it was a fairly old boy looked in good condition, when we got the chance we shot him in the neck 45 meters, When we got to him, I was very surprised to see both his antlers were missing! Which shocked me but then looking at him and where his antlers should’ve been There was a large amount of maggots, but no real sign of any other injuries on his head, he was absolutely fine in every other aspect on inspection.( I’m aware that antlers can come off especially as we’re mid October!)
Has anyone else had this happen or seen this?
Thanks

I shot one once where one antler was missing - no sign of injury so no idea how it happened.

 

[HonestJohn]

I shot one once where one antler was missing - no sign of injury so no idea how it happened.

What time of year?

 

[Sol]

I'd guess October considering there's tidbits of summer coat left on it, Its not uncommon at all roe deer quite honestly shed anywhere from October too January with them having small antlers, there's not nearly as much time needed to grow them.

Sure most mature bucks shed in november but many cast in October, even a few in september If they've had a hard stressful rut.

I shot this pair January 1st this year the buck had one antler and shed it as it fell

 

[TringSaint]

What time of year?

September 2021

 

[Sol]

September 2021

Unusual but not unheard of, something tells me he probably would of retained the other antler for a good week or two, they do that some times as well.

 

[TringSaint]

Unusual but not unheard of, something tells me he probably would have retained the other antler for a good week or two, they do that some times as well.

The other one I have here and it needed a fair bit of cutting off

 

[Sol]

The other one I have here and it needed a fair bit of cutting off

Did you chop it off before boiling I'm guessing? If you boiled the entire head you might of noticed a ring around the antler where the de-mineralization happens, Its still incredibly strong when It has the ring like appearance if Its not deep into the bone though.

I have a buck behind me I shot a few nights ago Its a decently mature deer (3-4) once I boil it if it has the rings I'll post it.

 

[TringSaint]

Did you chop it off before boiling I'm guessing? If you boiled the entire head you might of noticed a ring around the antler where the de-mineralization happens, Its still incredibly strong when It has the ring like appearance if Its not deep into the bone though.

I have a buck behind me I shot a few nights ago Its a decently mature deer (3-4) once I boil it if it has the rings I'll post it.

Boiled? Nah, I just went at it with a panel saw!!

 

[leej]

I've only ever shot 1 very freshly cast buck, it was an old fallow. Although the wounds were still a bit 'wet' they were clean so to speak with absolutely no trace of any maggots. How common is it for them to be that infested?

ATB
Lee

 

[sh1kar]

Shot a laid up Roebuck last year towards end of October. Both antlers fell off as he was shot

S

 

[long_range_rob]

An old pro stalker I know always recounts the tale of an Italian Count he’s boss had sent over for a gold medal roe. The client was taken out, lined up on the buck (a bloody good gold as it was recounted) and promptly shot it between the eyes with both antlers taking different trajectories

The antlers were retrieved and mounted on a cull buck skull using a couple of wood screws. Won’t get scored but a nice memory.

 

[Mountain Bug]

I once scared the antlers off a whitetail buck, or at least that's the story I'm going with. He was in his bed when I stumbled upon him (because I move like a whisper haha) and these were left behind still donning a bit of crimson.



Even better, I found both sides the next year in a neighbor's pasture.





Scott

 

[Sol]

Boiled? Nah, I just went at it with a panel saw!!

There's the one I shot last week with obvious signs of separation, not far off now