Mississippi Department of Wildlife Explains Buck Antler Cycle

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks explains the antler cycle of a buck. During late winter to early spring, a buck’s testosterone levels drop due to changing sunlight. This causes the base of the antlers to erode, leading to their fall.

Shortly after shedding, new antlers begin to grow as soft, living tissue covered in velvet. Growth slows in late summer and eventually stops. As testosterone increases, the antlers harden. Velvet begins to die off as blood supply is cut, causing nerves to itch.

Bucks rub their antlers on saplings and limbs to shed the velvet, a process that typically takes a few hours. The hardened antlers are what hunters see during hunting season.

The Velvet Buck Season aligns with the period when most bucks have stopped growing antlers and are in the hardening phase. The department expressed hope that participants enjoyed the recent season. Photos by Rick Small are included.

Source: Original Article