I saw 2 bucks that had one antler and one buck that had none this past weekend. The 2 that had one were smaller bucks, but the one that had none had a pretty decent body and I would guess 2.5 to 3.5 year old. 
On my last MN hunt of the year on Christmas Eve, I had a encounter with a 140-145 ” 4×5 on PUBLIC LAND. 
This was the second time in 3 days that I or my brother encountered this buck. Just out of bow range both times. 
Rob, I’m beginning to think you have a big buck magnet in your pocket? 
Those shedding bucks have me a bit worried. I hope most can hold off until Jan 1st.
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you have a big buck magnet in your pocket?
I just found a great PUBLIC piece, thanks to another person here @ IDO. Did some homework, scouting, a LONG walk to get to my spot, a few cold sits in nasty weather and it almost paid off. If I had that magnet in my pocket, that buck would have came about 10-15 yards closer and I would be 
today. 
My brother had him about the same distance on Saturday afternoon (50-55 yards), Xmas shopping got in the way on Sunday. 
Also remember Late Season if you find the food source you will find your deer and when it gets nasty out like it has been they do not bed very far from the food source. The bigger bucks move better in the afternoon hunt, but as Rich and I found out these pressured deer move quickly, but they only move the last 5-10 minutes of shooting light.
I too have seen more early shedding bucks this year then any other I can remember, but this is also the coldest and snowiest early winter we have had in quite some time. Stress equals drops in Testoserone. Low levels of testoserone equals dropping of antlers.
Funny you should mention the conditions Lip, as I am convinced from what I watched this week in deer and small game behavior that we are in for a rough winter this year. The last few here in Eastern WI have been relatively mild with a storm or two mixed in. Let me explain why I feel this way.
I was out on Sunday and Monday afternoon, checking out a place I hunt and seeing if there was any activity since teh muzzleloader season ended. When I got close to my stands on Sunday I couldn’t believe the trail leading out to a harvested corn field. I ran back, got my bow, and sat on the ground just downwind of that trail. To my surprise, at about 4 pm, a constant stream of deer came by. I saw 4 bucks that have already shed their antlers. I am sure that one of them is/was the 140-150″ 10 I was hunting most of the fall. In all, I watched 34 deer enter this field. Monday was a repeat with a couple of small antlered bucks among the herd.
My second observation that makes me think we’re in for a rough winter is in my yard. I have a small animal feeder in my backyard and the squirrels make for great entertainment there. The squirrels in my yard this year are by far the fattest I’ve ever seen. I am convinced that animals like squirrels know when they’re in for a rough winter, so they put on heavy fat reserves to get them through the winter.
Maybe that explains my weight gain too. 
Yeah a bad winter coming that’s it.
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Maybe that explains my weight gain too.
Same here. Tough winter coming. My body knew naturally to bulk up. 
If anyone does shoot a buck between now and the end of the year you better not drag it out by the horns. You might have your next set of rattlin’ antlers.
Good Points Jerry & Eron!
Jerry, let me guess where you will be hunting next year after muzzle loader??? Yep, find the food source and you will have deer every where. I had 28 deer come in almost single file, last night while glassing a food source. Only a couple of real small bucks, but a couple (2)other real big bodied deer that could have been bucks that shed already????
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