[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: How long would it take an elk to grow antlers
 

As with any antlered animal there is alot of variables. The type of forage they have for antler growth and the availbe minerals they have in there habitat also you have to take into cosideration the genetics of the bulls from a given area.
Most of the time they have there first set of antlers by age 1 1/2 years old and usally they are only a spike but this is where nutrition and more so the genetics play a roll on antler size and configuration. I have seen 1 1/2 year old bulls with 3 and sometimes 4 to a side but not real common usally they dont branch until they are 2 1/2 years old then they can be anywhere from 3x3 to a 6x6 again genetics is key but this does not mean they will have alot of mass to there antlers.

BIGSKY COUNTRY

RE: How long would it take an elk to grow antlers
 

buck59 You hit right on the money. Good explanation. elknut1

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

RE: How long would it take an elk to grow antlers
 

You may have overlooked the very basic fact that the asker of this question may not know. Elk antlers are dropped from their head (shed) every year in the spring (say Mar./April) and a new set is grown before the following Sept. every year. So if you look at a bull elk and ask "How long did it take for him to grow that rack?" The answer is about 4 or 5 months or so.

Robin

RE: How long would it take an elk to grow antlers
 

Down here our seasons are opposite. Shed in late spring (Sept/Oct) New velvet appearing early summer (November December), full Velvet by mid summer ( end Jan.) Rub off Jan/Feb, Hard Antler early autumn/late summer (Feb/March) through to drop/shed. As the year progresses after bugle, often the antler colour lightens up (Bleaches) and often wears at points.
There is always the odd exception to the rule.