Antler Growth

It's early summer, and that means it's time for antler growth in the world of the white-tailed deer. Antler growth by male deer is directly related to the fall mating season, or rut. Males use their antlers to do battle with other bucks for the rights to breed with dominant does. During the summer months, antlers are fairly soft, and remain covered in protective velvet until it is shed from hardened antlers around mid September.

Big white-tails can have small antlers and small white-tails can have big antlers. Just as genetics, age and nutrition determine body size, they also determine antler size and shape. Injuries also affect antler development. In rare instances, a hormonal imbalance causes a doe to grow antlers.

Genetics set the limits for antler size and form, allowing some bucks to grow large antlers and limiting antler size on others. Dominant bucks are usually large and have thick antlers with lots of points. They tend to produce offspring that also have large bodies and antlers.

As bucks age, they usually grow larger, thicker antlers. Fawn males, called “button bucks,” have pedicles (low knobs) but no antlers. A yearling's antlers can range from spikes to six-pointers or better, but are only about half the thickness they can be when the deer reaches maturity. Deer in good condition usually grow their largest antlers between ages 3 and 7, if they live that long.

Growing antlers are 80 percent protein and 20 percent ash. Hardened antlers are roughly 63 percent ash, 22 percent calcium, 11 percent phosphorus and 4 percent organic matter. Antlers are most dense on young deer and tend to become more porous as the animals grow older.

Antlers are true bone and different from horns. Antlers can grow up to one-half inch a day. That is one of the fastest growth rates in nature. Scientists doing cancer research are studying deer antlers to try and find out how antlers grow so fast. The scientists hope that if they can answer that question, they may also learn why cancer cells grow so fast. Some scientists believe that deer antlers may hold the secret to a cure for cancer.

Today's photo was taken by WPC Senior Director of Watershed Programs Nick Pinizzotto in late May of this year.

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