What Makes a Deer's Antlers Grow - Expert Overview

What Makes a Deer’s Antlers Grow?

Have you ever bagged a trophy buck and wondered how its antlers grew so big? If you’ve never read a primer on deer genetics and antlers, you’re in for a treat.

What makes a deer’s antlers grow? Discover the answer below, then pick up a bucket or two of Grow Masters Deer Mineral. It’s packed with important vitamins, minerals, and a natural deer dewormer, all in one easy-to-use product.

The Fascinating Cycle of Deer Antler Growth Stages

The antler development process begins while a young buck is still in the womb. Baby bucks are born with pedicles that are hidden under the skin of their heads. Several months after birth, the pedicles develop spongy bone and a network of blood vessels.

In the buck’s first autumn, you might spot hairy bumps on its forehead. These bumps can look like oily leather buttons, which is where the term “button buck” comes from.

When the buck reaches its second spring, antler growth really kicks into high gear. Changes in the amount of daylight trigger growth hormone production, which the buck will need to grow its antlers. 

New antlers are covered with a hairy skin known as velvet. Young bucks avoid fighting or doing anything that could damage the velvet, as doing so could cause its antlers to grow abnormally.

Once fully grown, the velvet dies and falls away from the antlers, revealing the strong, sturdy bone beneath. Now is a great time to start helping those antlers get off to a good start.

What Are the Most Important Factors for Antler Growth?

So, what makes a deer’s antlers grow? Age is one of the biggest factors impacting a deer’s antler growth. By the time a deer has reached five and a half years of age, it has typically achieved 100% of its antler growth potential.

Genetics also plays an important role. Deer are born with genes that control their antlers’ size, shape, and density. Like humans, some deer have better genetics than others.

Hunters can’t change a deer’s age or genetics, but they can help by providing nutrition for antlers. Antlers are largely made of calcium (they are bone, after all). However, deer generally don’t consume much calcium in their diets. That’s why, for the biggest antlers, supplemental nutrition is a must.

Protein is important as well. One study found that a difference of 8-16% protein by the deer’s fourth year of life may cause a 20-inch difference in deer antler size.

Deer also need plenty of phosphorus for powerful antlers. Their antlers contain 10% phosphorus, which can be lacking in areas with poor soil nutrition.

Fuel Whitetail Antler Growth With Grow Masters Deer Mineral

Now that you’ve learned what makes a deer’s antlers grow, why not pick up a bucket of Grow Masters Deer Mineral? Grow Masters contains everything bucks need to grow strong, healthy antlers. Pick up your bucket of Grow Masters online at hhwildlifeproducts.com or Walmart.com today, and see the difference it can make.