[shibumi]

As a youth I spent some time in the woods. I don’t recall ever seeing a full skeleton, or even a recognizable section.

I always assumed that scavengers made off with the bits.

Any “woodsy” folks know the real answer?

[Fichori]

Full skeletons usually last around a month or so. (depending on conditions and appetites)

A year out, you’ll probably have a semi-concentration of slightly scattered single bones.

Additionally, rodents will gnaw bones and antlers for calcium.

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Now, something that scavengers won’t touch, will last considerably longer.

YMMV.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Greetings shibumi:

I don’t recall ever seeing a full skeleton, or even a recognizable section. I always assumed that scavengers made off with the bits.

A deer was caught in a fence at our place one night. By morning, the coyotes consumed all traces, excepting the leg caught in the fence.

Cheers,
OLA

[Salamander]

Scavengers eat the fleshy bits and porcupines and squirrels make off with the bones.

A carcass could easily just “totally vanish” out in the woods forever.

[bert]

Until recent times, I would spend a good bit of time “in the woods” I have 5 or 6 sklls I have run across over the years.

I don’t know the interval between death and discovery. None is a Bigfoot

[gnarledmaw]

Salamander is correct, squirrels and porcupines. Marrow bones are taken by coyotes and such. Rabbits and rodents gnaw at solid bone left about the periphery of the forest. Around here it seems that no matter how soon after the shed a found antler will have gnaw marks.