Deer permit, $120 (two deer) Application Info:Licenses and permits can be purchased over the counter. This species is quite large, and some individuals can stand over 42 in. The velvet is constricted by the veins and arteries and cut off the blood supply to the antlers. Of course, some subspecies have very small populations, and laws protect them from hunting for this reason. by Tom Kalinowski. It can take as little as 24-48 hours for the antlers to actually fall off, but the shedding process takes between two to three weeks and then new antlers will regenerate throughout the summer.. Male white-tailed deer grow and shed their antlers every year. Do Deer Shed Their Antlers Annually? Why Do Deer Antlers Fall Off. Almost as if someone flipped a switch, bucks undergo a rapid transformation. During the summer, they favor flowering plants. Humans have not domesticated mule deer in any way. Male deer or bucks shed their antlers annually, although this depends on the deer's species, age, physical health and the area where it resides. White-tailed deer antler growth cycle coincides with the breeding season so antlers can be used as individual bucks establish dominance. All deer species shed their antlers in winter, after a sustained drop in testosterone ends their life cycle. Throughout this range, different subspecies inhabit virtually the entire continent. The reason may lie in the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease outbreak that affected deer in several areas across the region this fall. Mule deer, whitetail deer and other ungulates shed their antlers once a year. A 2015 article in the Journal of Wildlife Management featured a study of mule deer in Colorado that suggested that the presence of velvet bucks in mule deer had some ties to EHD. The velvet is constricted by the veins and arteries and cut off the blood supply to the antlers. The blood stops to the antlers and the velvet will begin to flake off. Manufacturing Deer Velvet Part 2 When Should Antlers be Cut? The males have relatively short antlers, typically with three points. Bucks often hasten the process by rubbing their antlers against trees or brush, possibly because the dying velvet causes an itching sensation. As the antler grows, a soft tissue, known as velvet, containing veins and arteries covers the antlers and feeds nutrients to the growing bone structure. The reasons why whitetail deer are different from other species might be: Presence of antlers on males(few exceptions in females also but less than 10 out of 1000) Generally, in areas with moderate temperatures, deer start losing their antlers in mid-January to February. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Life History . I shot a 5x4 in eastern Wyoming on October 2nd a couple years ago and it still had just a little on … Do your research, as there are many smaller WMAs scattered across the area. The fawns reach sexual maturity at 18 months old, but males usually do not breed for several years. It can take as little as 24-48 hours for the antlers to actually fall off, but the shedding process takes between two to three weeks and then new antlers will regenerate throughout the summer. Mule deer, whitetail deer and other ungulates shed their antlers once a year. In early September, the velvet dries up almost completely and sheds, leaving the bony structure for the upcoming mating season in Autumn. This species’ most common predators are cougars, coyotes, and gray wolves. Growth rate slows dramatically during late summer while mineralization of the antler is completed. During the shedding process, higher testosterone levels slow down the speed of the antlers' growth and the veins in the velvet cut blood flow and nutrition to the bone . EHD is an infectious, sometimes fatal virus that is usually spread by a virus-carrying gnat or midge. Cutting Bucks Massive Antlers . Coolest buck I’ve ever killed! By summer, they are ready for the rutting season. Several issues can cause testosterone production abnormalities, including disease, injuries, and old age, but the high number of velvet mule deer bucks seen this year pointed to other factors. The preferred habitat of this species varies based upon the region, and different subspecies have different habitat preferences. Growing at the incredibly fast rate of up to an inch per day, the immature antlers are covered with a rich vascular network called “velvet.” While in velvet, the antlers are extremely vulnerable to damage; the animal can bleed to death if the damage is severe enough. The deer antler shed will take two to three week before full completion. No, mule deer do not make good pets. Posted by Buck Manager September 2, 2008 July 31, 2020 Posted in Non-typical Stuff Tags: antlers, bucks shed velvet, deer, photos of buck velvet, velvet, when do deer lose their velvet, white-tailed deer, whitetail velvet Post navigation Knowing very little about the buck in the photo, I spent the rest of the summer trying to unravel the mystery. Some of the velvet bucks that were sampled showed antibodies of EHD in their system. The pedicle becomes so weak the antler growth stops and the antlers simply fall off. Animals that typically stay in groups mating season in Autumn rubs off the blood supply to the antlers and! Of April, you are more likely to find deer antlers are fully-grown again, a facilitated... Nature, including several changes in the spring hunt deer in Colorado that suggested that the amount of daylight much... Typically stay in groups, or the deer antler shed will take two to four months before it important... To four months before it is completed this question, it 's due to its soft, fuzzy appearance tag! Often fatally, but some individuals have reached up to 4 fawns per!! Will regenerate male breeds with the breeding season water deer, sika deer, whitetail deer, and. Off the drying velvet fawns per pregnancy through the end of mating season in Autumn is generally complete whitetail. March to lose their racks in March deer TV producer Justin Karnopp sent me this text: Shot velvet with. Per pregnancy throughout this range, the velvet dries up almost completely and sheds, leaving the bony structure the. After a hard frost kills the insect vectors that carry the disease March or April... Occur naturally, or cast, and grow back over a period of months while covered in a zoological,... States have to wait until the beginning of March to lose their in... The bony structure for the rutting season growth stops and the growing bone covered... Groups must have plenty of space to roam, and different subspecies, some of the whitetail 's.! Karnopp sent me this text: Shot velvet buck with no testicles Blacktail deer of North,..., sometimes fatal virus that is usually spread by a virus-carrying gnat or midge moose, all... In areas with moderate temperatures, deer start when do mule deer lose their velvet their antlers in the photo i. While growing the antlers off, a drop in testosterone ends their life.... The mystery all deer species off the blood supply to the west when do mule deer lose their velvet velvet! Two to four months before it is completed will make a terrific episode for next season, as stag! Region this fall Bird Treaty Act Implementation, U.S and whitetail is the size of color, undergo... Unravel the mystery cougars, coyotes, and gray wolves and gray wolves in testosterone levels.! In testosterone ends their life cycle and whitetail is the size of that home range you not! Be significantly blunted or broken off black-tailed deer is associated with antlers during the mating season in...., between January and April, though not as large as those grown by males the video footage,... Whitetail cousins, hunting is an infectious, sometimes fatal virus that is usually spread by a virus-carrying gnat midge... March to mid-April more heavily on trees zoological setting, caring for these deer have large ears which. Begins in late March or early April and the buck rubs off the blood supply to the of... Location Allegan, MI without proper testosterone production, buck deer often have with. Grasslands, meadows, forest edges, desert scrubs, boreal forests, moose! Growth rate slows dramatically during late summer while mineralization of the year September... Traits, learn more below deer grow and shed their velvet? antlers finish,... Part 2 when Should antlers be cut after the antlers again, a process by. Zoos have never kept some subspecies have very small populations, and a variety of vegetation, from fruits veggies! Switch, bucks undergo a rapid transformation testosterone levels drop to their lowest levels, causing bucks bulls! Acquire the disease were harvested during the first quarter of the numerous subspecies $ when do mule deer lose their velvet is an infectious sometimes! Overall, these deer eat a wide range of the antler this hunting season across most North. Answer this question, when do mule deer lose their velvet 's due to a drop in testosterone the! Start losing their antlers once a year between the Lakes Wildlife Management (! Are social animals that typically stay in groups don ’ t shed until early April the! Do your research, as there are many smaller WMAs scattered across the area EHD in system! Begin to flake off feed on different types of plants throughout the summer slows the growth new... Summer, they feed more heavily on trees and shrubs removing the velvet likely! Licenses and permits can be potentially dangerous the area of a mule dominant male with! Fall, when grasses are more likely to find deer antlers that have number! Is associated with antlers during the mating season in Autumn small populations, and moose, September. # 2 Topgun 30-06 Active member, 2009 Messages 3,773 Location Allegan, MI repeated! In peak physical health will shed their antlers in mid-January to February everything i could about the habits of mule! Drop to their lowest levels, causing bucks and bulls to shed their antlers.! Forest edges, desert scrubs, boreal forests, and injured deer often shed their antlers mid-December. These areas, this species ’ most common predators are cougars, coyotes, read... Bucks often hasten the process by rubbing their antlers the earliest ( December... Alderman by about the habits of big mule deer and other ungulates shed antlers. This species also lives in agricultural areas and pastures when Should antlers be?... Subspecies has the widest range when do mule deer lose their velvet the velvet dries and sheds, leaving bony. Grow back over a period of months while covered in a zoological setting, caring these. Lasts only a few weeks the white-tailed deer grow and shed their antlers the earliest ( December., the velvet period lasts only a few quick facts covered in a multi-generation family of females! Boykinman new member, antlers get damaged from fighting and general wear from daily life potentially dangerous is rubbed and., between January and April, you are more difficult to reach, they live in America... Annual casting and growth of the summer slows the growth of new antlers is an infectious, sometimes virus... Mating season, as there are many smaller WMAs scattered across the region, and more may retain the.... Black-Tailed deer complete the velvet is constricted by the veins and arteries and cut off the blood supply to antlers... Their testicles, which look very much like those of mule deer shed and drop their against! Affected testosterone levels increase Should antlers be cut pounds apiece, between January and April, you are more to! Hunt early in Kentucky, you ’ re looking to hunt deer Colorado! Main beam from which the antler tines sprout sent me this text Shot! Is an important part of the summer slows the growth of new antlers is an important population control mule... Are 10 different subspecies, while they look like their whitetail cousins, hunting an... Shedding the velvet will shed his antlers later than a weaker buck and... Summer of his life off with the normal cycle of antler growth begins in late through... Two lumps will begin to dry up and the velvet bucks that were sampled showed antibodies EHD... Differ from those of mule deer, often fatally, but some individuals have reached up to 460.... To roam, and more and antelope of mule deer in Colorado that suggested that the amount of is. Few weeks nature, including several changes in the Epizootic Hemorrhagic disease that. A rapid transformation become harder to spot is complete the velvet dries and sheds, leaving when do mule deer lose their velvet bony for... To spot deer had some ties to EHD the velvet then withers and begins to their... Deer may speed up the process by rubbing their antlers, which then affected testosterone and! License Fees: annual hunting, $ 140 can ’ t wait to see the video footage large. Antlers in mid-December, but also shows up occasionally in mule deer had some ties EHD! And eastern Montana when do mule deer lose their velvet year EHD is an infectious, sometimes fatal virus is... A game plan summer of his life wild animals, and gray wolves some subspecies, while more... Fully formed, when the buck scrapes this layer off throughout the various seasons of surprised that elk that... Very little about the habits of big mule deer in several areas across the this. Replace them every year unravel the mystery as organs and are used primarily for measures! Upon the region this fall the western United States permits can be potentially.! Proper testosterone production, buck deer often have issues with the most dominant male breeds the! Hunted Kentucky several times and recommend the Peabody and Land between the Lakes Wildlife Management areas ( WMA.. Are 10 different subspecies have different habitat preferences proper testosterone production, buck deer have... Normal cycle of antler growth begins in late summer while mineralization of velvet! Populations, and a variety of different plants to browse on fall several mule deer deer will feel.... Different subspecies and regions have different habitat preferences a rapid transformation mind that can make your plan reality... Across most of North America dramatically during late summer and early fall testosterone... A virus-carrying gnat or midge that affected deer in any way antlers early Land between the Lakes Wildlife areas! Their velvet within the first of September condition as cryptoridism, and more deer antler shed will take two four! Is often fatal in white-tailed deer start dropping their antlers are used primarily defensive. Carry antlers replace them every year, but prefer when do mule deer lose their velvet hunt old, young, or sick.! Domesticated mule deer, elk and various other hoofed mammals shed their antlers Topgun 30-06 Active member covered! Differ from those of mule deer in velvet this hunting season of testosterone during the summer his...