Antlers
12-30-2005 | 09:23 AM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,424
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From:
RE: Antlers
You can't age by antler color because antlers take on color all depending on what the deer rubs after velvet. If he rubs lots of small pines and gets lots of sap on his antlers then rubs thick barked hardwood trees his antlers will take on a dark or yellow color. It all depends, but color can't be used to determine age.
01-06-2006 | 03:03 PM
#22
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 0
From: Northern Idaho's Panhandle
RE: Antlers
Icame across this info surfing the the web the other day..Racks question to me about the penned deer got my attention....this info belowseems to make sense..It looks like a couple factors play into over all antler color..they are stated below..
Oxidized blood/local plants - antler color depends partly on the amount of oxidized blood left over from velvet shedding and partly on a chemical reaction between the blood and sap from plants on which the antlers are rubbed.
Oxidized blood/local plants - antler color depends partly on the amount of oxidized blood left over from velvet shedding and partly on a chemical reaction between the blood and sap from plants on which the antlers are rubbed.
01-06-2006 | 06:34 PM
#23
Typical Buck
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: MT
RE: Antlers
I don't think color of antlers have anything to do with age. I live in Mt. and deer here deerlive in diff. areas and have diff. color antlers. Muleys that live in the ceder will have dark antlers because they rub on ceder and they get sticky and collect dirt. The deer that live in open country will have light colored antlers. I have seen deer with no teeth and have light colored antlers. This is just my opinion.
01-06-2006 | 08:42 PM
#24
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 0
From: Ontario,Canada
RE: Antlers
I found this to be very interesting reading.It answers about the coloration and other things.I am sure you will enjoy it.
The development of antlers is one of the most researched aspects of white-tailed deer. Antlers are outgrowths of the skeletal system and are composed primarily of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals. Deer antlers grow from an area on top of the skull known as the pedicel, which is attached to the burr, or base, of the antler.
Bucks develop and shed new antlers each year. Antler growth may begin as early as mid March. Increasing daylight in spring stimulates production of hormones such as prolactin and antlers quickly emerge. The growing antler, which is the fastest growing form of true bone, is covered with a soft, hair-covered membrane known as "velvet". The velvet is interlaced with numerous blood vessels that transport and deposit minerals that build the antler. During this time, antlers are vulnerable to injury, which may result in deformation. Antler growth usually continues into September, when the bone hardens and the velvet dries and is removed.
Antler coloration is determined by the amount of stain received from hemoglobin of the blood in the velvet, and from juices of tree bark on which antlers are rubbed. Some bucks begin to strip the velvet from their antlers while there is still an active blood supply, while others wait until the velvet has dried completely. Antlers exposed to more blood will normally have a darker stain. Antlers exposed to moisture and sunlight will bleach out over time. Once shed, antlers begin to deteriorate from the effects of moisture and sun. In addition, rats, squirrels and even deer themselves will chew on antlers.
So, what makes deer antlers? The answer is very complex. Antler development is affected by nutrition and genetics, with nutrition being the greater role. Nutritional intake is used for the growth of antlers only after the body growth requirements are met. To achieve optimum antler development, deer must have nutritious food available in large quantities.
Sportsmen are always eager to learn how to increase the size of antlers for deer on their property. They often ask, "What should we plant to give deer better antlers?" Unfortunately, the increased use and commercialization of wildlife plantings have caused many sportsmen to mistakenly view such plantings as a cure-all for deer management. However, deer management is complex with many variables to consider. Supplemental plantings are of some benefit, but deer need nutritious forage year round to produce good body condition and antlers. It is important to remember that antlers are growing during spring and summer when many annual plantings are long forgotten. Naturally occurring spring and summer foods can be enhanced by prescribed burning before spring green-up and by fertilization, mowing and disking.
Producing better antlers goes beyond good habitat management. Proper harvest management is also a necessity. To ensure an abundance of high quality food, herd size must be kept within carrying capacity of the land. This often requires harvest of antlerless deer. Another prerequisite for large antlers is age. Body requirements use most of the nutrients taken in during the first couple of years of a deer's life and antler growth is restricted. Allowing young bucks to make it to the older age classes will greatly enhance their chances of growing a large rack.
As you can see, many factors including diet, genetics, age and herd management affect development of the white-tail's crowning glory--antlers. The next time you observe a deer's antlers, remember this amazing cycle of nature.
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The development of antlers is one of the most researched aspects of white-tailed deer. Antlers are outgrowths of the skeletal system and are composed primarily of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals. Deer antlers grow from an area on top of the skull known as the pedicel, which is attached to the burr, or base, of the antler.
Bucks develop and shed new antlers each year. Antler growth may begin as early as mid March. Increasing daylight in spring stimulates production of hormones such as prolactin and antlers quickly emerge. The growing antler, which is the fastest growing form of true bone, is covered with a soft, hair-covered membrane known as "velvet". The velvet is interlaced with numerous blood vessels that transport and deposit minerals that build the antler. During this time, antlers are vulnerable to injury, which may result in deformation. Antler growth usually continues into September, when the bone hardens and the velvet dries and is removed.
Antler coloration is determined by the amount of stain received from hemoglobin of the blood in the velvet, and from juices of tree bark on which antlers are rubbed. Some bucks begin to strip the velvet from their antlers while there is still an active blood supply, while others wait until the velvet has dried completely. Antlers exposed to more blood will normally have a darker stain. Antlers exposed to moisture and sunlight will bleach out over time. Once shed, antlers begin to deteriorate from the effects of moisture and sun. In addition, rats, squirrels and even deer themselves will chew on antlers.
So, what makes deer antlers? The answer is very complex. Antler development is affected by nutrition and genetics, with nutrition being the greater role. Nutritional intake is used for the growth of antlers only after the body growth requirements are met. To achieve optimum antler development, deer must have nutritious food available in large quantities.
Sportsmen are always eager to learn how to increase the size of antlers for deer on their property. They often ask, "What should we plant to give deer better antlers?" Unfortunately, the increased use and commercialization of wildlife plantings have caused many sportsmen to mistakenly view such plantings as a cure-all for deer management. However, deer management is complex with many variables to consider. Supplemental plantings are of some benefit, but deer need nutritious forage year round to produce good body condition and antlers. It is important to remember that antlers are growing during spring and summer when many annual plantings are long forgotten. Naturally occurring spring and summer foods can be enhanced by prescribed burning before spring green-up and by fertilization, mowing and disking.
Producing better antlers goes beyond good habitat management. Proper harvest management is also a necessity. To ensure an abundance of high quality food, herd size must be kept within carrying capacity of the land. This often requires harvest of antlerless deer. Another prerequisite for large antlers is age. Body requirements use most of the nutrients taken in during the first couple of years of a deer's life and antler growth is restricted. Allowing young bucks to make it to the older age classes will greatly enhance their chances of growing a large rack.
As you can see, many factors including diet, genetics, age and herd management affect development of the white-tail's crowning glory--antlers. The next time you observe a deer's antlers, remember this amazing cycle of nature.
RETURN TO INDEX
