![]() ![]() “Spike bucks” with longer antlers still limited to single pointsĪntlers begin differentiating into tines and are as wide as the ears “Button bucks” with only small buds of bone growth from their heads Percentage of Maximum Potential Antler Growth This describes general deer antler development by age. The antlers will shrink in size and may develop abnormal, asymmetrical shapes and a weathered appearance. From this point he will mostly grow the same, maximum-size antlers for two or three more seasons until he is 8-½, after which his health and dominance will begin to decline. As he matures, his antlers will increase in size, usually reaching their full potential in his seventh antler cycle when he’s 6-½ years old. Deer Age and Antler GrowthĪrguably the largest factor affecting a buck’s antler growth is his age. Similarly, these are often called “spike bucks.” It’s not until a buck’s second year that he’s likely to grow large antlers more than half their potential size and differentiated into points, or tines. Still, most don’t, only growing spikes that reach about 25% of their potential growth. It won’t be until their second cycle that a “yearling” buck is capable of growing full antlers. In fact, they’re usually just little bumps of bone, leading to the term “button buck.” Think of it as the first fuzz above a teenage boy’s lip. These are far from the glorious mounts you want for your hunting lodge, though. In fact, fawns born in the spring are more often than not capable of mating the coming fall.Īs a result, newborn male deer are usually capable of growing antlers their first year of life. ![]() Of course, deer have much shorter and more condensed lives than human beings. Think of antlers like the deer version of a beard. When Do Bucks Start Growing Antlers?Īntlers are a secondary sex characteristic, so they can only grow when the animal has adult levels of sex hormones, specifically testosterone. The lengthening days in the spring prompt the beginning of the cycle while the shortening of the days in the late summer prompt its end. This hormone cycle itself is regulated by sunlight. At the end of the summer, the testosterone peaks significantly in preparation for the rut, so he sheds the velvet. By the spring, his testosterone will start to rise again, so he’ll start growing new ones. ![]() After the rut in the fall, his testosterone will drop, so he’ll shed his antlers. This yearly cycle follows along with the buck’s yearly testosterone cycle. This red deer has recently shed his antlers ![]()
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