Comments on: Whitetail Bucks Are Rubbing Off Their Velvet

By: Buck Manager

Buck Manager — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:06:50 +0000

Travis, I think you are on the right track with your statement. Antler growth ceases because of hormonal changes. These changes not only stop antler growth, but cause the living “velvet” that nourishes the previously-growing antlers to die. Changes in hormones, or better stated, increases in testosterone levels, also cause bucks to fight trees and shrubs to relieve their building aggression. In the process, the velvet is removed from a buck’s antlers. This may have been confused above.

By: Travis

Travis — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:18:14 +0000

I’m sure that there is very big debate over this . In most all opinions, this statement is false: deer do not just drop there velvet. The process in velvet shedding is open to argument, but the reality is they do rub trees and bushes and such in order to relieve the dead tissue to expose the “hard horn” antler.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:30:51 +0000

I read an article in bow and arrow magazine that said deer that rub trees to remove velvet is a myth and has nothing to do with the shedding process?

By: Buck Manager

Buck Manager — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:50:29 +0000

Jim, age does play a role to some extent because older deer tend to do everything first… start growing antlers, breeding, shedding antlers, etc. However, the nutritional status also plays a role. Deer in poor condition will shed antlers earlier and deer in good condition will shed later.

By: Jim Fredericks

Jim Fredericks — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 02:27:26 +0000

What determines when a buck sheds his velvet? Does age have anything to do with when a buck sheds?