White-tailed deer shed their antlers every year prior to the re-growth of new ones. It may surprise you to find out that the entire shedding process takes only two to three weeks to complete, and of course the re-growth phase takes place over the summer up into very early fall.
Bucks have antlers throughout spring, summer, and most of the winter, but shed them sometime between January and April (depending upon the animal and latitude), after the rut and breeding season comes to an end. A buck can carry-on without antlers post-breeding because they do not need to fight-off other bucks for territory and does.
Antler Loss
Deer antlers differ from the hollow horns of cattle in that they comprise solid bone tissue with a honeycombed structure. Pedicles, the skin-covered nubs protruding from a buck’s skull, serve as a base for antler growth and support the deer’s antlers. However, keep in mind that the pedicles are permanent fixtures on the deer’s forehead, and are the point at which antlers separate from the deer each year.
During the first 6 to 8 months of age, the pedicles grow and begin to appear on a buck fawn‘s forehead. These young bucks, born earlier in the year, are commonly referred to as “nubbin bucks” by hunters. A whitetail buck actually begins antler growth as a yearling buck (first set of antlers) at about 1 year of age. Each subsequent year the buck will go through the antler growing process and loser its antlers, over and over, annually. As the deer matures, the antlers typically increase in mass, beam length, and point length. They also will add points in many cases, but not always.
Growing Antlers to Use, then Lose
During growth, antlers are covered with a sensitive skin commonly referred to as “velvet.” This velvet is filled with blood vessels that constantly feed the antlers the vitamins and the minerals necessary for bone building. Antler growth demands a lot of vitamins, minerals, protein, and energy, so adequate native forage and/or supplemental feed must be available to meet these requirements for maximum antler growth in bucks.
Antler growth can range from two to four months depending upon the individual buck. After this time, a hardened ring forms at the base of the antlers (burr) that shuts off blood flow to the velvet-covered antlers. As a result, the velvet deteriorates, dries up, and falls off, often assisted by the white-tailed buck, which rubs his antlers against tree bark.
At this point, the antler growing cycle of a whitetail buck is complete. The buck will prepare for the breeding season, and then antler shedding cycle will resume after the fall and winter breeding season. After the weather warms and Spring green-up, bucks across the whitetail’s range will start a whole new year of antler growth.
Those pictures of the deer and you were really cool.The deers antlers were the biggest I have ever seen.
It is early December and I came across a whitetail buck with no antlers. Not broken off, but they actually look like they never developed. He looks like he is about 3 years old. What is up with that?
Where do the antlers go when they fall off the buck? I never see any laying on the ground.
From what I understand, if a buck gets castrated or injures himself while it has no horns he will never grow any more antlers. On the other hand, if a buck gets castrated or injured while he has his horns, he will not loose them. I am not 100% sure of this, only a good friend of mine told me this. Anyone know anything about this?
I though I saw a whitetail buck in a field that was growing its antlers back. It’s March and is that possible.
It is definitely possible to see white-tailed bucks growing antlers. Most bucks grow antlers about the same time, but there are also outliers—those that start very early or very late. Where are you located?
I live in salem co. nj.
I had no idea that white-tailed bucks shed their antlers annually. I thought the size of a bucks antlers was a great indicator of how old a buck is. To my suprise, I learned I was wrong. It is amazing that a buck sheds their antlers annually. They are amazing animals.
Well see, squrriels can eat one shed antler in under ethier a day or a week, I can’t remember exactly. Thats why you don’t always see them, but alsoIi want to know the exact times that they lose them because other wise the varmets get to them first.
I harvested a four point buck that was still in velvet. I was told it was called a stag. How common is it harvesting a buck like this?
I read an article about moose that said if a moose is casterated his antlers would fall off and the next set he grew would be very irregular and would never fall off. I assume this would apply to deer too since they are in the same family. I’ve never seen evidence of this myself.
Yes, this is correct. If a deer is castrated while he has his antlers he will not shed them, but if he is castrated while he has none he will not grow them either.
I live in Vermont and I’m wondering if it is possible to get a better time frame on when bucks shed their antlers around here? I have looked all over my property from December to mid-February and have found nothing, but I know the deer bed here and live here. We see them all winter long
When antlers hit the ground they don’t disappear. You just have to put in the time and have a sharp eye to find them. But knowing where to look can increase your odds.
Lonnie, the buck could of grown his antlers a lot earlier, before every other buck, or he could have lost them earily, or he could of lost them in a fight. And how do you know it was a buck? If the deer was smart he would have ran right when he saw you? I think deer in suburban areas shed their antlers earlier than country deer.
Nutrition is a HUGE factor in when bucks drop their antlers. Our neighbor (both of us have large high-fenced ranches) that does not provide protein and mineral supplements had his bucks dropping antlers in January and February. We feed supplements and our bucks drop their antlers around Easter and grow much bigger antlers. The deer on the other ranch drop their antlers sooner probably because the extra weight of the antlers requires more calories burned for the bucks. In non-optimal conditions the buck needs all stored calories available to him.
Deer sheds are commonly eaten by small rodents and other animals because of the calcium they contain. It’s often a race to get to the sheds before the critters do!
I just found a fresh little buck shed antler in Pennsylvania on October 13. It was very symmetrical looking and had 3 points. The pedicle area was not damaged, from the looks of it. Any ideas on why this happened so early?
Jerry, my guess would be that is has something to do with the health of the buck, which perhaps has effected its testosterone levels. Poor deer health, which can be caused by poor diet, injury, or otherwise, impacts many of a deer’s bodily functions.
Deer antlers are typically shed after testosterone levels fall off after the breeding season. Something has already caused your buck to do just that.
Usually you will not see shed antlers unless you go right after they fall. In the north both squirrels and and chipmunks will chew them to nothing, so if you want to find them you will need to go about a month after the post rut when everything dies down. It varies by location though.
Anyone know when is the best time in Kentucky to look for sheds?
I think that hunting is a good thing for both hunters and the deer, and I think that hunters should have a limit on both buck and doe killings to help manage the deer population. If there are too many deer there will not be enough food for the deer and soon they will die off because there are not much food to go around. Any deer killed should be used for eating and NOT for just for sport or only for their heads.
I have observed a buck for three years in a row that has not shed his antlers. I’ve witnessed it in June, March, and May… all different years… it is now March and the deer’s rack is still in velvet. The antlers are nowhere near symmetrical and they are still the same size as they were in November of last year? It is a whitetail I’m sure, and I just snapped some pictures today.
Some friends of mine have suggested it was a female? It has a large four point on one side and a stub on the other about 5″ long and as thick as the other side about 2″. Healthy looking. If you want to see holler at me. Located in Michigan.
We have a buck in the area that I know about. We have been keeping an eye on him since November and it is now April and he has not shed his antlers yet. Is this unusual? We never saw the buck in velvet either. We see him every night. The buck is not that big, but nice.
Last night in northern Ohio I saw an 8 point that had not shed its antlers yet. And no, it wasn’t in velvet either. That’s pretty uncommon isn’t it? I have never seen a deer so late into April that hadn’t shed yet.
I know that in New Jersey you are limited on bucks. I think, and don’t quote me, for bow and extended bow season you have to show a doe before you can shoot a buck, and same with rifle. Muzzle loader I’m not sure, but the problem with this is you can get a permit for each section of the hunting season and I feel that if you by one of the sections you can not purchase any other. But that is how New Jersey deals with their deer population. New Jersey is a VERY backwards state. There are also zones that can not be hunted on as for sake of the lower population.
I plan to go hunting for antlers that have been shed for the first time early next year. My neighbor, who is an avid hunter, told me that the best time to look for them here (Kansas City area) is the 1st week in February. Is there anything I need to know before I venture out there?
I find antlers all the time. But animals like porcupine, and every other type of rodent out there, likes to chew on them to get the calcium out of the bones. Wolves, coyotes and domesticated dogs like to chew them, as well, so they don’t last too long unless they’re in an inconspicuous place.
But no one has answered the question as to “why” exactly does the buck lose his horns each year? It seems to be a tremendous use of body energy to create a new set of antlers each year. Why not just save them for next year?
I’m from Meigs, Ohio, and on December 19 I found a huge shed. It kinda threw me off because it’s so early, but I went to a deer ranch today and all but three of his bucks has lost their horns. I’m lost lol. I shed hunt every year, but why did they fall off so early? Is it the weather? The rut came in early to this year?
Christine, there are many factors that can impact the annual antler cycle. Habitat conditions combined with an individual deer’s body condition can play a big role in antler growth. Also, food availability can cause deer to enter the rut earlier than normal or start later usual. I suspect environmental conditions and habitat in your area were better than normal this year. Did your area get a lot of rain in late summer or have an especially large, early acorn crop?
Hello Brian, I too live in Vermont and found whitetail bucks loose their antlers mid-February to mid-March but there are some stragglers that will hold their antlers until the beginning of April. I hope this is exactly what you are looking for and best of luck shed hunting.
Is it true that if a buck senses a doe can still come in heat they will not loose their antlers? This is what I heard and it seems kinda odd to me.
I have seen ten bucks while shed hunting with both sides still intact. Why is that, it’s late for them to still have their antlers.
What happens if a buck does not drop his antlers? It’s April in Kentucky and I have seen several bucks still supporting last year’s growth.
I am in Maryland and to my surprise have pics of a young buck still sporting last year’s antler. Albeit just one, but it’s really late for Maryland. My experience is that young bucks seem to drop earlier than mature bucks, probably do to the lower hormone levels. The weather this year is definitely having its affects on the wildlife population. It will be interesting to see if fawns start hitting the ground in late May.
I am new to whitetail observation in NE Washington. The two bucks I saw last night were growing new antlers. Is there any way to tell how big they will get or how old they are from the new set of antlers? It’s May 22, these two were already 3×3’s about 8-10″ high. They looked like twins and traveled together, although I doubt that makes them twins.
I recently almost hit a buck near Twisp, WA. He was crossing the highway. The weird thing to me was that he was in velvet, but one of his antlers was flopping backand forth like it was detached from his skull, hanging loose. He was maybe injured?
My theory is that they become a nuisance to the deer when foliage is greatest. Trying to slip through heavy brush is tough enough without 8 points getting stuck on twigs. They serve a purpose during mating, then fall off and when food is plentiful and they regrow.
Anyone know how long a buck will carry an antler once has shed the first one? I’m guessing not very long?
He probably broke it trying to rub the velvet off.
I just found the right side of a NICE 12 pt was wondering what the chances are of finding the left?
When will buck in PA start their regrowth for the upcoming season?
Not necessarily true. I live in southwest Indiana and have seen bucks dropping sheds in the wild way earlier than they drop them around my house, which is in a suburban area. I think that there might be a connection between how hard a given buck ruts, as to when they shed too. The whole process is hormonal, remember?
Twice I had an unusual thing happened. Both bucks were shot in the neck and both of their antlers fell off when I walked up to them, without even touching either one. One deer was in Pennsylvania on Dec. 7, 2013 the other in Maryland on Dec. 3, 2012. Can anyone explain that?
Tom, I’m just going to go with luck. Lightning did strike… twice!
When should I look for sheds in Lorain County, Ohio? Is it the first week of Feb?
Keith..I’m a huge bowhunter/shed hunter and I live in Greene County, Ohio. I went out today for about an hour and a half looking for sheds and I found an 8 pt set that would score around 130 and a small left side to a basket 8, but I saw two bucks that still had both sides. I’ve been shed hunting for about 6 years now avidly and the biggest sheds I’ve ever found was a set that scored 183 without the spread and I found it on Christmas Day. Typically I start finding them around January 7th but I see bucks with racks until march. I’m just a nut and can’t stay out of the woods. I have 121 sheds with the 3 I found today.
If you have private property then you have the luxury of being able to wait until they have all shed before going to retrieve them mid-march, but I just walk metro parks, university woods, gold courses, public hunting, etc. so I go early and I hit each property about 5 times between Jan-April trying to get to them before other people and animals. First, slowly walk all the fields, most antlers seem to fall while they are feeding, then I walk along the woodlines because it seems they fall off often while deer are entering or exiting the woods where the honeysuckle is thicker, and lastly comb the bedding…the secret is to walk VERY SLOW!!! Hope it helped, good luck!
When do the bucks start losing antlers? To start shed hunting?
I find deer antlers in my backyard all the time. Of course, we also have lots of deer ticks.