There are no cookie-cutter bucks. Each is distinctly different. Here in western New York the actual antler growth process begins at the end of March for the majority of bucks. The only thing that would keep a buck from starting at this time would be that he hasn’t cast the previous year’s antlers yet. The rate at which a buck’s antlers grow is dependent on a number of factors with genetics, health, age, stress, soil quality and the overall quality of habitat — both natural and agricultural — all playing a role. I photographed this pictorial of a mature buck in New York State. The quality of food available to him was excellent and the levels of stress he experienced were about average for this part of the country. HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? Of all the whitetail bucks I’ve raised, the majority cast their antlers between Jan. 20 and March 10. The earliest I ever had a buck cast antlers was Jan. 1 (he was injured) and the latest April 3. Once the antlers are cast, the pedicle bleeds, causing a scab to form. The scab then heals from the outside of the pedicle to the center. When fully healed, the top of the pedicle is covered with a brownish-gray skin, with a small light gray dot in the center of the pedicle. Daylight increases as the winter wears on, setting the stage for antler growth to begin. When day length reaches a certain point, blood begins flowing to the pedicle area and the antlers begin growing. The skin covering the pedicles pushes upwards through a series of superficial arteries that will
carry blood flow to the antlers as they grow over the next four-plus months. During the growing process, the blood flow lays down a protein base upon which minerals are deposited. The skin covering the growing antlers is called velvet because it feels like velvet when touched. The velvety feel is actually the result of hundreds of tiny hairs that grow out of the skin. These hairs serve a purpose, which is to alert the buck to danger when the antlers touch brush or other obstacles. Because the velvet is made up of blood vessels, the antlers are warm to the touch and only slightly cooler than a whitetail’s 101degree body temperature. The velvet also makes a buck’s antlers appear much larger than they actually are. The majority of bucks will be finished growing their antlers by Aug. 1. Then the hardening process begins, which usually takes 20-25 days. Though the antlers will be solid bone when the velvet is peeled, they are far from hard during the early stages of growth. From the time they begin growing in late March until about July 15th, a buck’s antlers are bulbous and quite pliable. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a buck to cut or even sever a beam or tine during the growth process. If the antler is badly cut or severed, it is quite possible for the buck to bleed to death. If a buck is mature and has everything going for him, his antlers may grow from one-half to one inch a day, especially during the June 15 to July 15 time frame, when daylight is greatest. During this 30-day period antler growth literally explodes.
TIME LINE April: From the time antlers begin growing in late March through the end of April, growth is minimal. The primary reason for this is that the amount of daylight is much less than what it will be in June. Secondly, most bucks are still stressed from the long winter so their overall body is in recovery mode. Another reason antler growth is slow in coming during April is the lack of quality food because spring green-up doesn’t normally come to the northern states until mid to late April. By the end of April brow tines on a fully mature buck should be easy to spot as well as 1-2 inches of additional antler beam. May: In most whitetail locales, May explodes onto the scene with an abundance of high-octane food, both natural and man- created. Nutritionally, all natural food and forage preferred by whitetails are high in protein and very nutritious throughout May. This allows a whitetail’s overall body condition to improve from the stress of winter, setting the stage for an explosion in antler growth. By the time May draws to a close the G2 points (second point on a typical rack) should be noticeable. In addition, the antler beams should now be about half of what their length will be when the rack’s growth is complete. June: “Summer time and the living is easy,” is about the best way to describe what June is all about for whitetails. If rainfall is normal, nutritious food will be lush and readily available. This, coupled with the longest amount of daylight of the year, provides the
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WHITETAIL NEWS / Vol. 19, No. 3
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