Speaking of early antler drop, this was a big 10 that sustained an injury to his gut somehow in late rut. Had written him off, but I have him on cam as of 1/1/2020. Here he is, already shed out, on 12/19.
To see it on the computer for the first time was a moment. When I picked the camera up the snow was deeper and it wasn't showing. After a partial melt today my wife and I went out and retrieved it. It was a nice 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 eight, that is nice for here--nothing like the monsters in your parade or most of the other bucks on this thread but Ok for here.
Hillrunner you nailed it!!! You have an incredible eye. Thank you for pointing out the "moment". This picture was taken just two minutes prior to the pic with the dropped shed in it and as it turned out both antlers were actually dropped at that time.
Here are two close ups of the same deer taken in November. The antlers match up perfectly right down to the slight chip on the left antler.
Based on the pictures of him here and the antler mass I think we'll raise his age to 3 1/2 or even 4 1/2.
Very deep by my land too already. I'm east of Leech lake. Deer have mostly left for the Cedar swamps. Still a few hanging out being feed by the neighbors. Ice fishing is nearly impossible again this year.