Admin How big can their antlers grow to be?
Compared to their body size, reindeer have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species. A male’s antlers can be up to 51 inches long, and a female’s antlers can reach 20 inches. Unlike horns, antlers fall off and grow back larger each year.
What makes deer antlers grow big?
While antlers are growing, they’re comprised mainly of calcium and phosphorous. There are lesser quantities present of potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Providing bucks with high levels of calcium and phosphorous can jumpstart antler growth.
Do deer grow bigger antlers every year?
Since most free-range deer are hunted during their prime age of five to seven, you will find few deer older than eight years old. Until this age, deer antlers get bigger each year. As deer age, the shape and size of their antlers will decrease and their body mass will shrink.
What determines the size of deer antlers?
Three major factors that determine antler size are: age of the buck, genetics of the animal, and nutrition. Said another way, you will not get maximum antler size unless the animal has the genetics, is a healthy mature buck >5years old, and has consumed the nutrients needed to achieve the genetic potential.
Do deer antlers tell age?
There is really no precise way to accurately do deer aging while hunting, other than looking at the teeth. Despite the many stories hunters tell each other, the size of the antlers and the number of points on the antlers is not a reliable age guide. Antler size is more a function of diet and heredity than it is of age.
Do only male whitetail deer have antlers?
In other species of deer, antlers are normally only found on male deer. However, females can grow antlers if they have higher-than-normal testosterone levels. In this article I look at why males have antlers and determine why female caribou are the only species to grow antlers regularly.