RE: Antler Growth
Hormonally, the hardened antler falls off in the winter/spring when the testicles shrink and testosterone levels drop almost to nothing. The testicles remain small, producing very little testosterone for the entire "growing" period of the antlers. During the first part of September the testicles swell up again and produce testosterone. This is what causes the antler to harden and shed the velvet. When this happens, the buck is ready to breed. It is the doe's timing of heat (estrus) that controlls the timing of the rut.
This is why if you castrate a buck or have a "cactus" buck that has had damage to the testicles, he will grow antlers that continue growing and never shed their velvet. Hope that answers your question.
Edited by - txhunter58 on 10/15/2002 13:20:05