The second month pertaining to whitetail deer lifecycles is, Pinaweekiilhswa ‘Antler Shedding Moon’. It is during this month that some bucks begin the process of shedding their antlers. This process usually begins for bucks that are younger, smaller, or more stressed. Other factors which affect the start of the process include genetics, dominance status, injuries, deer population, poor nutrition due to a lack of good food resources, and other health issues. Photoperiod (the amount of daylight an organism receives) is the main influence on testosterone levels. As daylight levels decrease, testosterone levels will also decrease, which begins the process of bucks’ antlers loosening from their skulls. Antlers will eventually drop off or are knocked off. Some of the younger, smaller, and very stressed bucks will start dropping their antlers towards the end of this month. While older, bigger, and more healthy bucks usually start this process of shedding their antlers a little later. The antler shedding process is a signal of the rut being over for those deer. After the rut, the antler growth cycle begins again.
