The antler loss is due mainly because of the tetosterone levels dropping in the bucks. If almost all the does have been bred and the rut is over the levels drop . Thus the deer's body goes thru a change . The amount of daylight in the day has a little effect on it but not much. I know a guy who got drawn for one of the Jan. quota hunts ,he shot a buck in one of the trophy areas that had to have a 15 inch spread. After shooting this deer while he was feild dressing it one of the antlers fell off. He took it to the check station where the law officer promptly wrote him a ticket. He said the deer couldn't have a spread with only one horn attached .