The most recognizable characteristic of the whitetail buck is of course their antlers. For centuries, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike have been obsessed with this unique phenomenon in nature. Antlers are the fastest growing bone material known to mankind. Within just a twelve month period a mature buck can produce a rack in excess of 200 inches, shed that headgear, and then immediately begin preparation for new antler growth.

Stage 1 – Mid Jan. to Mid March

Antlers begin the process of new formation immediately after dropping the previous set, although they may not become visible for about a month. There will be an open wound at each pedicle once the antlers are shed. The pedicle is the base foundation for an antler that is part of the deer’s skull. This open wound is highly vulnerable until it is completely scabbed over. If the pedicles are damaged at all, the buck may produce abnormal antlers. Antler growth timing is closely related to photoperiod, or the amount of sunlight in a given day. As spring carries on and sunlight is increasingly available, melatonin is decreased in the whitetail’s body. This drop in melatonin signals hormones to start rapidly producing antlers. Many things influence when a whitetail buck will shed his antlers, but typically most will have dropped their headgear by mid March.

Stage 2 – Mid March to May

Antler formation begins in a state commonly referred to as velvet. During the velvet phase, the antlers are comprised of soft tissues with a high supply of blood flow. These soft tissues, such as cartilage, are very susceptible to injuries. Any damage incurred to the rack at this stage would most likely result in an antler deformity.

The whitetail’s body will begin depleting it’s own mineral reserves to help the production of cells in the velvet antlers. For this reason, late spring and early summer is a great time to set up mineral sites on your property, as the deer will seek them out to replenish their supply. Minerals are important to antler growth but proper nutrition, habitat, stress and genetics play an even bigger role in producing a trophy rack. By the end of April a mature buck will have visible brow tines and the start of his main beam.

Stage 3 – May to July

The overall health condition of a whitetail buck is a huge factor in antler production. Whitetail deer can fuel their bodies with the lush forage provided in the forest throughout May and June. For this reason, combined with the long photoperiod, these two months are the peak growing season of a buck’s rack. As deer have this high intake of fresh greens, their water consumption also spikes. A high water content leaves the body depleted of sodium, which creates a perfect opportunity for hunters set out salt licks. Of all twelve months in the year, deer will visit a salt block most frequently in these early summer months.

Hardened antlers are made up of multiple minerals but calcium and phosphorus are the most abundantly found. Supplying your deer with mineral blocks containing these two elements will be sure to help improve the overall quality of the herd. As July comes around, most bucks will have begun growing all the points that they will have this season. The ends of their tines will be very bulbous, or rounded, as they are still growing.

Stage 4 – July to Early Sept

A buck’s rack continues to grow throughout July and begins the hardening process by the second week of August. Blood flow is cut from the antlers and the tissues begin to mineralize. The cartilage is then resorbed and bone material is produced. The antlers will begin hardening from the bases and move up towards each tine. The full hardening process will take nearly a month and then the velvet will quickly fall off. Often the whitetail buck will aid this process in rubbing his rack up against tree trunks, brush, or even tall grasses. At this stage, the antlers will serve the buck during the rut as he establishes his dominance.

Stage 5 – Early Sept to Mid Jan

As the rut comes to an end and winter is in full force, the resources become increasingly scarce. The bucks will begin to enter survival mode and soon shed their antlers. This occurs when the bone material between the antler base and the pedicle is reabsorbed by the deer’s body. This process occurs when the amount of testosterone dips below a certain threshold. A sudden rush of hormones and adrenaline often is enough to lower the testosterone below this level. You may have seen this on hunting shows where a buck sheds his antlers almost immediately after he has been shot in late season.

The weight of the rack, a slight jolt from crossing a creek, or even a simple head turn will cause the antlers to fall off. As mentioned earlier, there will be an open wound, slightly bloody at each pedicle. These will fully scab over within the next 2 weeks and the annual growing process will begin again.

The Wonders of Antler Growth

The rapid growth of antlers is a natural phenomenon that has sparked the interest of millions. Understanding the growth process gives us hunters an advantage in growing quality bucks in a given area. No deer are exactly alike and the stages of growth are a generality. Some bucks shed their antlers as early as December and others hold onto them well throughout April. Although uncommon, a velvet buck can even be encountered the first few weeks of archery season (mid September) in some states. Antlers are the fastest growing bone material known to mankind, potentially growing over an inch a day. This is just another reason why whitetails are such remarkable animals.