Left , good nutritional intake is a main factor to growing quality antlers such as this near perfect velvet buck taken on opening weekend in North Dakota .
growth , the testosterone levels are very low , however as fall approaches , these testosterone levels ( and other nutrient levels ) increase causing rapid final mineralization and thus hardening of the antlers to bone . We normally see this transition in late August and early September . Here in North Dakota , we are fortunate to have an early archery season that allow us the opportunity to harvest a buck in velvet . These velvet bucks can look like giants and are very impressive due to the velvet giving them the thick , heavy appearance . You can see from the photos at the bottom of this page the difference between a velvet and a hard phase of the whitetail buck . The velvet phase can give them a much larger appearance .
As the testosterone increases , the velvet begins to lose vascularity , drying it out and causing this velvet to be rubbed and shed within 24-48 hours . We have seen a buck walk into a brushy , treed area in full velvet and re-enter the field minutes later completely clean of velvet . Due to this fast timeframe of rubbing the
Bottom , here are two bucks with velvet and hard antlers . You can see how the velvet can make a buck look very thick and heavy .
velvet , it is rare to see a buck with velvet hanging from its antlers during this phase .
I was fortunate to take a buck in Montana that was in the mid-stage of rubbing off it ’ s velvet . This buck was in a grassy , rolling hills area with few trees . I shot him after stalking within 30 yards . Apparently , the grassy terrain was not conducive to rubbing the velvet off quickly .
Just a note , bucks do not rub off their velvet due to an ‘ itch ’ or ‘ irritation ’. When the rubbing occurs , the velvet is dried and dead , therefore it has no nerve endings or feeling . This activity is suggested to come from the photo-period shortening , triggering the first stages of rubbing and marking areas .
Now that the antlers are hard bone , the bucks will continue to build their bodies in anticipation for the rut . The testosterone will continue to increase as they establish hierarchy and dominance , preparing themselves to fight off any breeding intruders during the rut .
The fluctuation in testosterone
Muth photographed this rare buck that still had his velvet hanging from his antlers .
levels throughout the year are regulated by the changes in the amount of daylight ( photo-period ). These testosterone levels will peak in early through mid-November bringing a frenzy of rutting activity to the landscape . The trigger of the rut is not weather related but daylight related . Weather may determine the time of day that most rutting activity occurs ; however , it only influences this rut activity to a minimal degree .
As December rolls upon us , the rutting activity decreases and by mid-December the testosterone levels start to drop rapidly . This triggers cells to re-absorb the bone at the pedicle , causing the antlers to fall off . You will see freshly shed bucks with blood red pedicles which quickly scab over .
Mature bucks normally shed their antlers earlier than younger , smaller bucks . The antler shedding may also be dependent on nutritional conditions . Non-stressed , healthy
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