Why do deer horns fall off

Antler growth is energetically expensive. This helps explain why only mature bucks sport huge trophy racks. Once a buck has reached his full size, his body can afford to expend more energy on antler growth. Because antlers are bone, they require a lot of calcium, and this is a precious nutrient in nature. They get recycled by other animals, including mice, chipmunks, squirrels or even foxes and coyotes, who gnaw and ingest the nutrients they contain. Look from January through April for the best chance of finding them.

Try to focus on areas where you know deer spend a lot of time, especially places where they bed down. It will be easier to find sheds in areas without a lot of thick cover, so start with easy terrain like fields and meadows before heading into the woods.

In most species, new growth begins shortly after the area forms a scab. All animals with antlers cast and regrow their headgear annually, typically in association with the breeding season and the length of daylight.

However, the specific months that this process occurs vary based on where the species lives geographically. For example, white-tailed deer in North America cast their antlers around February and March, while the European roe deer shed their antlers around November. The antler growth cycle , regardless of species, consists first of casting the antlers, then regrowing velvet-coated antlers. The antlers then harden and the velvet dries up and falls off. Finally the fully-grown antlers are ready for the new breeding season.

In white-tailed deer, the male drops his antlers in February and March and begins regrowing them slowly in April and May. Once June rolls around, his antler growth increases rapidly, up to two inches per week. The male's antlers have fully hardened by September and he begins shedding the velvet covering. After about 24 hours of scraping his antlers against various branches and shrubs, the male has removed the velvet and is ready to compete with other males for breeding rights!

Marina Somma is a freelance writer and animal trainer. She holds a B. Marina has worked with a number of publications involving animal science, behavior and training, including animals. Life Cycle of a Deer. How Do Deer Antlers Grow? White-tailed deer typically reach their prime at around age 5, and often produce their largest antlers between ages 4 and 7, depending on location and nutrition.

All deer species shed their antlers in winter, after a sustained drop in testosterone ends their life cycle. Several months later, the animals regrow their antlers from spring through late summer. Antlers and horns are terms often used interchangeably — but incorrectly. Antlers shed annually, but horns stay attached and keep growing. Wild sheep and other horn-growing animals never shed their head gear, with one exception.

Pronghorns shed their horn sheaths annually. Males of all deer species — elk, caribou, moose, mule deer, Coues deer, white-tailed deer and black-tailed deer — grow antlers. Female caribou also grow antlers, though not as large as those grown by males. The antlers start as nubs in April and reach their full potential by August. At that stage, antlers are soft to the touch and easily damaged. Antlers harden in late summer and then shed their velvet once they quit growing.

The velvet dries and falls away when its blood supply ends. Bucks often hasten the process by rubbing their antlers against trees or brush, possibly because the dying velvet causes an itching sensation.