Antler Drop

Thank you Russell!

It doesn't matter what form of husbandry you are in there are thousands of different ways to manage livestock. If using medroxyprogesterone was growing bigger antlers everyone would use it, so instead of jumping to conclusions that people are using it to grow bigger antlers maybe one should listen to what other people have to say. It is a management tool that can be used. And we had someone asking how to use it properly. Roger also wanted to know how to use it as I'm sure many others do too that I'm sure have not spoken.

Do we use it on every buck? NO

THESE BUCKS ABSOLUTELY LOOSE THEIR MARBLES DURING RUT. And i am not going to chastise someone who needs to cool some jets. we have also used it on bucks who don't shed both sides at the same time and it helps even out the growth in the spring.

Well lets just say I for one am pretty dumb.........................BUT not dumb enough to believe Medroxyprogeterone is ALWAYS used as intended?............An that it was intended to Lower Hormone Levels in young men housed together to keep them from molesting one another.


 


With the rush to grow ..........My buck Bigger n YOURS at an earlier and earlier age and to gain an edge on the next guy....................You talk to enough people and see first hand some of em would feed em the kitchen sink ground up and mixed in the feed if it got em the edge!   :blink:

Whitetail Sanctuary888521385339827



Well lets just say I for one am pretty dumb.........................BUT not dumb enough to believe Medroxyprogeterone is ALWAYS used as intended?............An that it was intended to Lower Hormone Levels in young men housed together to keep them from molesting one another.


 


With the rush to grow ..........My buck Bigger n YOURS at an earlier and earlier age and to gain an edge on the next guy....................You talk to enough people and see first hand some of em would feed em the kitchen sink ground up and mixed in the feed if it got em the edge!   :blink:




 


Now Wayne you know better n at!  These drugs are used for da betterment of da deer..Not da betterment of da deer farmer..Nor his back pocket...Have you learned nutin all dee's years?

Wayne, your correct about the kitchen sink.


 


Heck anytime there is money involved everyone looks for the edge if it is profitable. And yes some are after the "bigger than the next guys buck" also. I know its all taboo to say these things but as I see it the breeder market is all but over. A few select farms will continue to beat the drums about how everyone needs to get into the business, or how their bucks are the best or biggest. BLAH BLAH BLAH.


There will always be a few farms each year looking to bring in something different to their herd and there will always be some new person looking to raise some deer because they just love whitetails. Those folks will drive and keep alive the breeder market some. For the most part the chickens have come home to roost now though and the industry is going to what it's real market is. Hunt ranches. Providing places for people to experience their dreams. I have a share in a hunt ranch and other than an occasional adult doe I mightl market, the majority of my efforts is soley to stock the hunt ranch with quality bucks. I couldn't give 2 hoots about chasing the next big flavor of the week.


Dead bucks in my breeding farm pens are not quality bucks. Due to starting over in a new location with a new breeding farm and a changed business plan, cost cutting is extra important. Therefore I run only 4 pens of limited size now.


I have buck fawns (9 total) in pen #4


Pen # 3 is adult does


Pen # 2 is doe fawns and adult does


Pen # 1 is yearling bucks. (4 total)


At another farm location I have some bucks of ages 1-3 and I need to combine some of them with my breeding farm herd. The 3 year old in spring will go to the hunt ranch along with most of the 2 year olds. The one yearling buck still alive I want to add to my current pen of 4 yearling bucks to grow out their 2 year old racks. I would like to add one 2 year old buck to that pen also when he is done backing up the AI program. It is my hope to combine all these bucks in Jan or Feb. This is not something that is possible when bucks are carrying antlers or cutoffs (mine have not been sawed off) because they will just fight like hell. If by chance they all drop on their own about the time I need to do the combining SUPER. Then I won't use the tool to make the antlers drop.


My desire or interest in the drug is not to jump start antler growth or try and grow bigger racks. I am simply trying to safely and efficently run my herd the way I best see fit for the moment under my current situation. I don't appreciate someone trying to insult the way I choose to run my farm or insult my experince in the industry. Funny how we are supposed to tip toe around so as not to offend or upset those who are against what we do. Really??? As if ANYTHING we do is acceptable to them. Haters hate and anti's are anti's despite how we do things. The only bad publicity our industry doesn't need is illegal movements and "hunting places" that are nothing more than small pens full of bucks. And that even sucks because if I want a cow from the local farm I can go pay him for it and wack the damn thing right in his yard if I want. that is ok but don't buy and kill a whitetail !!! OH THAT IS JUST BAD JU JU THEN !!!


I want to thank those who have shared their knowledge about this tool for antler removal. As jerrilee stated I am sure there are many reading the forums who are researching this as a possible solution to their own herd managment issues.

pondflatwhitetails888691385437348



I have used it in the past in late Feb early March for the ones that still hadnt dropped both antlers (that was a little late and affected antler growth on the side that hung on so long). After one charged my mother yesterday I decided that this problem needed to be fixed. Either with a dart gun or a shotgun  lol. She is ok. luckily she had a board with her and he got to the board before he got to her.




Thank God for that.  Was the buck that charged your mom cut or no?

Mine is cut and I have to beat him back often.

Deerchaser888931385513604



Mine is cut and I have to beat him back often.




Just be careful Bret. When even a small 200LB buck throws his weight around the cutoffs and forehead alone are enough to kill a person. We had a buck get a broken rib that punched into the lung and killed another buck some years back.

pondflatwhitetails888691385437348



I have used it in the past in late Feb early March for the ones that still hadnt dropped both antlers (that was a little late and affected antler growth on the side that hung on so long). After one charged my mother yesterday I decided that this problem needed to be fixed. Either with a dart gun or a shotgun  lol. She is ok. luckily she had a board with her and he got to the board before he got to her.




Ben I am glad your mother is alright. Maybe don't let her go in there for a while yet.

IndependenceRanch888541385346619



 "A few select farms will continue to beat the drums about how everyone needs to get into the business, or how their bucks are the best or biggest. BLAH BLAH BLAH.


There will always be a few farms each year looking to bring in something different to their herd and there will always be some new person looking to raise some deer because they just love whitetails. Those folks will drive and keep alive the breeder market some. For the most part the chickens have come home to roost now though and the industry is going to what it's real market is. Hunt ranches. Providing places for people to experience their dreams". 




I find this extremely amazing Roger said what ALOT of folks have on their minds and NO ONE even comments on it!  


 


Some folks are in denial ? I suppose because they need to feel like........................We are not at that point?

Has anyone done any studies on this with deer? On their own farm?  It has been around for a few years (more vocally in the last 2). The challenge would be to mark the dates of antler loss and compare same deer, for a few years with dates of beginning antler growth. And then record scores for said years. Also would be nice to compare same buck using antler drop and growth dates prior to use of the drug. Anyone done this to date? Any side effects noticed? 

I think it would be hard to know the effect on growth because there are sooooo many factors that effect Antler growth, health, nutrition,stress,breeding,etc. We used it last year and do not think it adversely effected them nor did they get any bigger than we expected. We had one that would shed a side really late due to prior damage to the skull plate. He shed it within 2 weeks of the shot. Hope that helps.

Jerrilee, tried to send you a pm. Last year I used a antler drop that I got from the guy I bought my deer from. Don't know what it was, I've heard Depo Provero  (spelling) works. I did not cut with only having 2 yearlings and 1 two year old. I'm using the peacemaker on their feed but I have noticed them looked up a few times and blood on the two year olds antlers yesterday. So my question is, What is the name of the antler drop, where do I get it and what is the dose? Thanks

Depo provera or medroxyprogesterone

Usually get it through a veterinary pharmacy

Adult bucks we give 2cc

Jerrilee, As always, thanks for your help.

Jerrilee, My Vet ordered some Depo  but they got it from a compound pharmacy. It is 200mg/ml. Can you tell me the normal or regular strength so I can calculate the dose for my deer. 2cc may be to much if the regular dose is a lot less than the 200mg/ml. Any other thoughts? Thanks again.

What I have been using is the 100mg and giving 2cc . so you would just want to use 1cc with the strength you got.  Jets will be cooled in a handful of days and antlers will usually drop in about 2 weeks give or take a couple days.

Thanks, You're my hero!

What is the earliest anyone has used this?