Stages of Antler Development in White-tailed Deer
BuckManager.com | May 20 | Non-typical Stuff
Antler growth in deer really is phenomenal! In fact, deer antlers are among the fastest growing tissues in the animal kingdom, growing as much as 1/2-inch per day during peak antler growth. Of course, the amount of antler material a buck grows depends upon nutrition, genetics, and age.
Actively growing antlers are covered with a living tissue called velvet, because it really looks and feels like velvet material. During antler development, a buck’s antlers are both extremely delicate and sensitive to the touch. Even though bucks are not aggressive towards each other during the antler growing period, this is still the time when most antler damage occurs.
White-tailed deer antler growth usually begins during the month of March or April, and by August or early September antler growth has ceased. And an interesting fact: In most cases typical deer antlers begin growing out a buck’s head in a backward motion, then quickly change direction and sweep forward as we commonly know.
So how long does it take for a buck to form hardened antlers? The following photos illustrate antler growth for a single white-tailed buck in Texas from March through September.
Antler Growth Photos by Month
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I have an 8 point whitetail that has been coming in to my feeders for about 3 years. The buck is easily identified by a split right ear. This year he has not shed his antlers and about two weeks ago I noticed two additional points on his right antler, including a drop tine. I have never seen or heard of this happening. Can anyone enlighten me? I have pictures on file of him over the past two years if anyone is interested.
Jack Morgan | Jun 21, 2009 | Reply
If a buck has 4 points one year will it have like 5 or 6 points the following year?
Alan L. Farner | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
Alan, it depends on the age of the buck. A yearling buck (which is 1 1/2 years old and should not be confused with a fawn) with 4 points WILL probably be a 6, 7, or 8 point buck the next year (2 1/2). However, a buck with 4 points at age 3 1/2 or older likely has poor genes for antler growth and will likely NOT get any better.
Buck Manager | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
How do you estimate the width of whitetail deer antlers by a picture?
Mark | Feb 21, 2010 | Reply
Mark, the best way is to use the bucks’s ears as a guide. In Texas, 1.5 to 3.5 year old bucks, when their ears are in the alert position, have ear tip to ear tip spreads of about 13 inches. Mature bucks at 5.5 to 6.5 years old have tip to tip spreads of about 15 inches.
Since there are well over 30 subspecies of whitetail in North America, you will have to ask local hunters or taxidermist for good averages for your area. And keep in mind that tip to tip spread increases slowly with age.
Buck Manager | Feb 21, 2010 | Reply
I was told that a spike will always be a spike, that an 8 point will always be an 8 point, and so on and so on. Is this true, because I thought that the rack grew in relation to age and quality and quantity of food? Could you explain this to settle a small argument. Thanks.
John | Oct 16, 2010 | Reply
John, it is very rare that a spike will stay a spike. Most end up being at least 8 point bucks down the road. The fact of the matter is that a yearling buck (1.5 years old) can be a 2 to 10 point deer. Most end up being 4 to 8 points. In general, as a buck ages it adds points, with most maxing out at 8. Young bucks that have a high number of points are more likely to have a higher number of points at maturity than a young buck that starts with a low number of points. This is the genetic component of antler growth.
Food quality and quantity, as you stated, can also play a role. A deer that has a poor diet, even if it has the genes to grow good antlers, will not progress “normally” and reach his full potential. So yes, bucks generally increase in points with age, but only up to a certain point.
Buck Manager | Oct 17, 2010 | Reply
Can a 10 point buck one year go down to an 8 point, or will he stay 10 or better?
Serge | Oct 26, 2010 | Reply
In general, bucks tend to maintain or increase the number of points on their antlers each year. However, if bucks begin to suffer nutritionally, then their antlers can take a hit and decline. However, this is not permanent. If a buck’s level of nutrition increases in following years then antler growth will rebound. So yes, bucks can drop points and gain them back, but deer with good, constant nutrition usually don’t do this.
Buck Manager | Oct 26, 2010 | Reply
Thanks. The reason we were asking is because we got pics of an 8 point buck this year that looks exactly like last years 10 point. The next biggest buck last year was a small 6 that had a big body, and then a couple of 4 pointers, After reading the previous postings, I can see that those young bucks from last year could be 8s this year.
Serge | Oct 27, 2010 | Reply
Your eight could’ve been last year’s ten. They do sometimes depreciate with old age.
Jack | Apr 13, 2011 | Reply
AT WHAT POINT DURING ANTLER GROWTH IS IT POSSIBLE TO KNOW FOR SURE OR IS THERE A POINT AT WHEN A BUCK HAS ALL THE POINTS HE WILL GET FOR THE YEAR AND THEN JUST GROWS THE LENGTH AND FILLS OUT?
George | Jun 19, 2011 | Reply
George, that’s a good question. On our ranch, we usually have a good idea of exactly what we’re looking at points-wise by early to mid-August (sometimes sooner, it all depends if the bucks have non-typical points). Every place could be different. Set out some trail cams and take pics starting early July. Compare the pics to what the deer look like during hunting season and you should be able to nail down the dates of when you could definitively tell.
Hunter D | Jun 23, 2011 | Reply
Hi, I was wondering is it be possible for a 1 1/2 year old buck to be an eight pointer?
Kyle | Sep 10, 2011 | Reply
Kyle, the answer to your question is YES! The bucks with the best genetic potential will have 8 or more points as yearling (1 1/2 year old) bucks. Unfortunately, many of these deer get harvested before mature.
Buck Manager | Sep 10, 2011 | Reply
Kyle, if you have a 1.5 yr old eight, you’ve got a future great buck right there. If you guys are good at aging deer, that could be a heck of a buck at maturity…but like Buck Manager stated, not many of them make it that far. Someone shoots it sooner because their rack even before maturity will be impressive.
Hunter D | Sep 14, 2011 | Reply
Two questions: I have a nice 10 point non-typical that is hanging out around my stand. The right antler is a little messed up, but the left is beautiful. If I pass on him this year, could he end up with a good typical rack next year? Also, I have a LARGE 6 pointer with a very big base around 3 inches. What are your ideas on taking this deer? Thanks.
Joe Bishop | Sep 23, 2011 | Reply
Joe, there is a very good chance that the first buck you mentioned incurred some type of damage during antler growth. I would recommend shooting the 6 point buck. From what you said, my guess is that it is an older deer, or at least middle-aged. Either way, it should have more than 6 points. Shoot that deer!
Buck Manager | Sep 23, 2011 | Reply
I have a set of sheds from a whitetail deer. Nice 10 pount. Each tine has a long growth, then a knot that looks almost like a knuckle on a finger and then 1-2-3 inches of additional growth. This occurs on every tine on the rack. What would cause this?
Richard Johnson | Oct 25, 2011 | Reply
Richard, the knots you are referring to are commonly called antler “acorns” by many deer hunters. These acorns are caused from an injury when the animal was in the velvet. The soft, thin tips of the antlers get bumped, causing a small crack or break. The blood flow is still good because the skin/velvet is not torn and antler growth continues. As a result, the bone/tissue is filled in and creates a bump in the antler, which somewhat resembles a knot or acorn.
Buck Manager | Oct 25, 2011 | Reply
I have several spikers on my property in the UP of Michigan. They look to be about 1.5 years old and their spikes are about 6″ to 8″ tall. Will they have a chance to grow more points as they mature?
Mary | Nov 6, 2011 | Reply
Mary, spikes will continue to gain antler points as they age.
Don | Nov 8, 2011 | Reply
We have several young bucks with no brow tines. I have always heard that bucks with no brow tines started out as spikes. Is this true and should these bucks be taken out as culls?
Danny Nichols | Nov 9, 2011 | Reply
Danny, if you are talking about 2 and 3 year old bucks then, yes, I would recommend that you harvest them. It would not be a bad idea to shoot any buck 2 1/2 years of age or older that is missing brow tines.
Buck Manager | Nov 9, 2011 | Reply
Can a young buck born in the Spring develop spikes or antlers with 4 or more points by the fall of the same year (six or seven months)?
Jay | Nov 13, 2011 | Reply
Jay, the answer to your question is no. A buck fawn will not develop antlers the same year in which it was born. The fawn will produce two nubs on the top of its head where the antlers will be in the future, but these do not develop into hardened antler material. In fact, buck fawns, which are somewhere around 6 months old during hunting season, are commonly mistaken for does by hunters.
A buck begins growing its first set of antlers during the late Spring following the year it was born, when the buck is almost 1 year of age. They commonly develop two to eight points. A buck with it’s first set of antlers is called a yearling buck and is about 1 1/2 years old during hunting season.
Buck Manager | Nov 14, 2011 | Reply
I was curious if a 1.5 year old buck that is a 5 point, meaning 3 on one and 2 on the other, has potential to become a nice 8 or 10 point. Plus does it reflect anything on the potential growth if the young buck has no brow tines at this early stage of antler growth. Also, if a 3 year old is an eight what are the odds for him getting bigger and better. I guess I’m wanting to know if they are shooters or not right now. Thanks.
Dave | Dec 20, 2011 | Reply
Dave, yes a yearling buck with 5 points will more than likely have at least 8 points, maybe even more. The majority of bucks will be at least 8 points by the time they are 2 to 3 years old, but the more points at buck has as a yearling (1.5 years old) the more potential it has down the road. Yearling antler quality is as good an indicator as we have for future antler potential. If a buck has only 8 points at 3 years old, the odds are that he will not gain points. A really good deer, antler-wise, should have 10 or more points at 3 years of age. What you shoot or don’t shoot depends on your management goals.
Buck Manager | Dec 21, 2011 | Reply
My Dad’s ranch in Texas has a lot of 4 and 6 point deer on it. How long will it be before the 6 points and the 4 point will become either 8 or 10 point deer? Also is there any thing we can do to promote antler growth? I have heard that feeding them with certain foods will accelerate antler growth. Thanks.
Troy Salmon | Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
Troy, the majority of 4 and 6 point bucks should have 8 points the following year, assuming the bucks you are seeing now are 1 1/2 years old. No doubt about it, feeding feeds high in protein will help antler growth, just make sure you have a plan before throwing a bunch of feed/money at them. If the buck to doe ratio is not where it needs to be, most of the feed will go towards does and fawn production. And that is okay if that’s your plan.
Buck Manager | Jan 21, 2012 | Reply