the deer I've observed have dropped pretty much the same times/rates as normal. I saw bucks drop as early as Jan, and saw one buck with both sides last week. Most dropped in late Feb/March..pretty normal.
I don't know if a "healthier" buck will hold antlers longer as much as it is a sick/injured/run down buck will drop earlier than (what we would call) normal.
I'm with ya, ours, in normal years, seem to peek 2-3 rd week of March, with some as early as first week of Feb. and some being about now for the late droppers.
