The antlers are falling off

[beenthere]

I've come to the conclusion over the years that the antlers are chewed on by the rabbits, not the squirrels.
I thought squirrels for years, until I started hanging the sawed-off antlers in a bush or tree up off the ground.

Maybe mice too, but they should be able to reach them in the tree or bush.

Video from trail cam 10 days ago, these bucks still hanging onto their racks. But have seen one buck without antlers, only the scars were left.


https://rumble.com/v29g5es-young-bucks-feb-8.html

[KEC]

A number of years ago, I was out planting some White Cedar on a friends' property and saw something that caught my eye. A matched pair of antlers from a big 9-pointer that  my friend had hoped to get. My son who was with me said "Hey Dad, look at that"! About 30' away was another matched pair of smaller antlers. The bigger set scored 130 B+C. Like a dummy I did not dash out and buy a lottery ticket. After a while I gave the big set to my friend who owns the property.

[SwampDonkey]

Just about any animal that naws will eat antlers. Hares, mice, squirrels, porcupine, fox, coyote, bears. They are all known to chew them.

[KEC]

Today, February 26, 2023, I saw a buck near Syracuse, NY still carrying a set of 6 pt. antlers, fair sized for only 6 points.