Antler color comes from the type of plant species that the deer rub on. I have harvested a couple bucks right after they have shed their velvet. The boneis almost completely white due to the lack of rubbing. Even whenbuck rubs off hisvelvet he begins to add color...I also have these bucks sheds from the year or two prior. The sheds conversly are much darker due to the bucks abilty to rub. Rubbing puts the color on antlers. Here I see a variety of antler color. Bucks that rub predominately on pines/fir are brown and white. Cedar rubbed antlers are reddish brown and willow and poplar rubbed bucks have dark chocolate antlers here. I have found from scouting specific bucks that they tend to find a sapling species of choice and usually stick to that type of sapling. I believe they take a liking to certain cambium odors.

One other observation. From finding hundreds of shed antlers I have always noticed younger bucks rub less. I believe this could have to do with increased testosterone levels of older bucks versus younger bucks. Most of my 3.5 year old and older buck sheds are covered with color, not always but most are........ on the contrary almost everyone ofthe young buck sheds I have found are partially colored. I don't think these 1.5 year olds and 2.5 year olds are as aggressive in their rubbings, don't get me wrong they rub and rub plenty but the bigger older bucks seem to really prepare more intensly for the rut imo.. just my 2 cents..