When do antlers have velvet

He also spends time photographing wildlife. Nice post. The information stated was very useful for whitetail deer hunters, especially newbies. Keep it up! The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events, history, arts, nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities.

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Tom Kalinowski Tom Kalinowski is an avid outdoor enthusiast who taught field biology and ecology at Saranac Lake High School for 33 years. Tags: hunting , Whitetail Deer , wildlife.

Yes, the velvet is soft and visually appealing, but at some point, the deer needs to shed the material to reveal its new antlers. Velvet is also a commodity, and for centuries people have taken the fallen velvet and used it for medicinal and other purposes.

Deer have no control over the growth of their antlers, instead relying on a synchronization with nature. Specifically, growth centers around the changing light across seasons. For example, during the spring there is more daylight, which triggers an increase in testosterone.

Bucks must feed a lot leading up to and through spring and summer to receive the nutrition necessary to grow antlers. How much food a deer eats can directly contribute to the size of their antlers. Age is another factor. The number of points refers to how many spikes there are on an antler. Older and stronger bucks will usually have the most points, and those male deer are prized by hunters and taxidermists alike. Despite the rut being months away, male deer start to prepare to face off against rivals for the affections of females early.

The velvet keep the antlers safe during this time to ensure that they can reach their full potential. When velvet shedding happens, it is the signal that the rut is beginning. During the final stages before shedding, the buck will already be displaying behaviors used in the rut.

Over the weeks heading to the rut, antler velvet will peel off, usually around mid-August. It is during the peak of summer when the tissue in the antlers mineralizes and hardens as the blood flow is cut off.

For deer shedding velvet and peeling it off is a tricky task that results in strips of bloody material hanging from the new antlers. Some bucks get the job done quickly and a full shed can take just a few hours. For some males, it is a task that can last for days. Over the shedding period, the deer will try to remove the blood-filled velvet by rubbing against trees and even biting off hanging pieces if they can reach them. Why manage deer? BDS position statements. Responses and letters. Contacts for notifiable disease in deer.

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