Do Deer lose their antlers every year?

Answer 1

Male white-tailed deer grow and shed their antlers every year. Antlers are composed of true bone. Antler growth begins in late March or early April and the growing bone is covered by skin with numerous blood vessels (velvet). In late summer and early fall, testosterone levels increase. This hormone elevation results in the antlers hardening and the buck rubs off the drying velvet. When testosterone levels begin to drop, antlers start to shed beginning in mid January. Deer that are in the best physical condition will lose their antlers later in the winter.

Answer 2

ALL members of the deer family as in whitetail, blacktail, coues, and mule deer, moose, caribou, and elk "drop" their antlers in late winter and grow entirely new sets in time for the fall rutting season when males compete with each other for the right to breed willing females. A single antler "palm" on a large bull moose may weigh well over 50 pounds. Contrary to popular opinion, the pronghorn antelope (not really an antelope at all and NO relation to the deer family) ALSO sheds its "horns" annually and replaces them with new growth over the bone core. Ironically, the pronghorn is the only North American animal known to do so. And another point of interest to consider is that the "horn" of the pronghorn antelope is made up of compressed hair....much the same as the horns on a rhinoceros. The antlers of the deer family are rich in calcium and other nutrients, and the inner core near the base has a fatty marrow similar to other bones. Because of this great and readily available source, rodents of ALL kinds gnaw them down quickly. Surprisingly, even deer will chew on the drops to try to recover some of what they need to regrow large and strong antlers. Recycling at its best! Right? Because antlers have their own unique scent, people with bird dogs could fairly easily train them to find and retrieve antlers, making that challenge a LOT simpler and easier. Unfortunately, most antler hunters loose the greatest majority of the drops to the natural cycle. But then, when you think about it...that's just not all that bad. Right?

Answer 3

Yes. White-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose..the males of these species all grow antlers and shed them annually. The following year's growth is typically larger than the shedded antlers.

Answer 4

To be sure you have the answer you need, be more specific about the species you are thinking of. Lot's of critters are sometimes called "deer" depending on where you live.

Be aware of the difference between antlers and horns.

Answer 5

Yes, unless they have been castrated. In that case their antlers just keep growing little spikes, looks like a tumble weed on their head.

Answer 6

yes they shed thier antlers every year and regrow them they fall off in late december re grow in early april unless they have been injured or something they may not lose them

Answer 7

Yep. deer shed their horns once a year and regrow them in about 2-3 weeks. This usually takes place in the summer time.

Answer 8

Yes, the males have them and each winter, they drop and spring they re-grow them and add length to a branch of the rack or begin to grow a new branch.

Answer 9

just the males

Answer 10

yes, unless they are stuffed and mounted