Antler growth?

sniper14 · Mar 25, 2011

After deer and elk shed their antlers what time of the year do they begin to grow new ones. I want to scout this year never have in the past (thus my poor hunting "luck" ) and while scouting I would like to see more then slick heads. When is the best time to get out and hit the hills? Thanks in advance for any information

gaetz · Mar 25, 2011

I saw a few bucks the other day that have already started sprouting. They were in the same group with bucks that were still packing.

TRH

Yoyak · Mar 25, 2011

middle of July or first of August.

nickman · Mar 25, 2011

Antler growth begins within days of shedding last years gear.

"whackin' a surly bartender ain't much of a crime"

littlebighorn · Mar 25, 2011

I have seen different stages of growth from different bucks in the same area at the same time.
Once on the 4th of July I saw a nice buck that was pretty much full grown. Then down the road I saw a toad buck that was out past his ears and barely branched on the same morning. He looked like he had a couple of fuzzy baseball bats growing out of his head. The big buck ended up being a 34" monster, but he didn't finish growing until the first part of August.

huntindad4 · Mar 25, 2011

I would say they are good enough to tell what they will be by mid July to early August. I was shocked to see a Roosie Bull the other day that had his first two points off of his main beams but he had 2 or 3 other bulls with him and they looked like they just dropped and the spikes I see still have last years gear on.

Bill

Look out Forkie, FTW is watching us!

theox · Mar 25, 2011

agreed mid july to early august you should be able to get a good idea of the buck or bulls potential. thye strip velvet usually end august to early sept

zeddro · Mar 25, 2011

I shot this guy on the opening morning of the archery hunt, and he was still going to grow.

huntindad4 · Mar 26, 2011

Nice buck Zeddro!

What was the date of the opener? I Know NV opens pretty early and I have seen some still growing like yours from NV but that guy reminds me of the last week of July bucks I have scouted.That guy could have gained an easy 20 inches by the time he stopped growing.

This is in no way an accusation I am just trying to learn too.

Bill

Look out Forkie, FTW is watching us!

Cornhusker · Mar 26, 2011

Fastest growing mammal tissue. Is increasingly being used in cancer research I picked up sheds last weekend, some deer are still wearing antlers some already have the bumps of beginning new antler growth.

zeddro · Mar 26, 2011

I took this buck 2 years ago in southern Utah. I believe opening day was Aug 21ish.

Don't worry I took it to the taxidermist and they all gave me the "poached look".

He said that he cut the tips of the velvet and hung it upside down over night and when he came in the blood was dripping onto a table, ran all the way down to the other side of the table then created a pool of blood on the floor.

He pumped the antlers full of fluid, but they still shrunk a ton.

sageadvice · Mar 26, 2011

I remember as a young guy, late in high school maybe, going to the County fair on the 4th of July and then hurrying back to the ranch to Bowhunt some bucks i had been scouting, on the opening day.

This was Cali, A-zone, archery season, early 1970's

Joey

addicthunter · Mar 27, 2011

I saw a bull elk three years ago on a southern Utah unit that seemed nearly fully grown on may 31st. 6 points on each side.

hubba_3 · Mar 28, 2011

i think i recall david long saying once that the first of july is when you can start scouting them pretty hard. they are starting to get into their "summer routine" and by then you'll be able to tell which bucks are going to be big and which ones arent'... so i think that the 1st of july is a pretty good starting point.