Stages of Antler Development in White-tailed Deer

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