by Robin Follette

All male members of the deer family – deer, moose and caribou – have antlers. On occasion, females also grow antlers. I don’t know if it’s because social media makes it easy to pass around photos and information, or if there are more white-tailed does with antlers, but it appears to happen more often now than in days gone by.

Antlers are true bone, made of mostly calcium and phosphorous. Bucks grow antlers starting just before their first birthday. Growth is triggered by hormone production that begins when day length reaches 12 hours. That’s in April here in Maine. Antlers are covered in velvet a hairy, waxy-feeling substance that’s warm to the touch because it’s alive,while the bone grows. Velvet and soft antlers are tender and easily injured.You won’t see bucks sparring at this time of year.

One of the antlers on my 2014 buck has a wound that looks like a long, narrow cave. I assumed the wound was from a stick and didn’t give it any other thought. I looked at it again when the mount came back from the taxidermist and noticed the round, smooth back wall. A stick would have left a jagged wall. Friends offered an explanation. The hole was most likely caused by a botfly, and injury wasn’t involved.

Botflies start out as an intestinal parasite that’s the deer’s circulatory system, stop in the soft, velvet covered antler, and take up residence. The hole is the result of the larva making its way out of the antler before the antler hardens. This is a great demonstration of the softness of a growing antler, and makes it easier to understand why bucks aren’t sparring. They go easy on their growing head gear.

Growth happens fast. In the first 30 days the first tine has grown, and in the next 30 days, G2, the second tine, has developed. She enjoys By the end of the fourth month, the antlers are fully grown. It’s now late August or early September. Antlers looked ragged for the day or two it takes the velvet to be shed. If the botfly larva wasn’t gross enough, here’s a little more unappealing information: Bucks sometimes eat the velvet.

As daylight decreases, testosterone increases, and growth slows. The blood supply ends as the bone becomes dense. The size antlers a buck has in mid-September is what he’ll be sporting during hunting season.

Contrary to popular belief, bucks aren’t rubbing the velvet off on every bush they can find. I’ve learned they make rubs often, not just in the fall prior to the rut. Velvet will fall off without any help.

From year to year, antler size increases significantly from 1½ years old, the first antlers, through age 3½ or 4½. Antlers do increase from year to year until age 7½, but the increase is less noticeable. By 8½ they’re probably on their way down.

Antlers are a walking advertising campaign. They serve two main purposes. A large rack signals a mature, healthy buck and gets the attention of the does – and it also signals a mature, healthy, strong buck and that sends a message to other bucks.

Nutrition plays a big role in antler growth. Overpopulation, for example, causes poor nutrition that leads to smaller or deformed antlers. Feeding the deer – although discouraged by the Department Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – and offering mineral blocks might help increase antler size. Genetics also play a role. The best thing we can do to allow antlers to reach their full potential is to let deer reach maturity. Let them go to let them grow. I know it’s sometimes hard to wait, but isn’t it nice to see the results?

Full Development of Antlers - Worth the Wait