What Happens After a Deer Loses Its Horns?

A deer in velvet antlers

Have you ever come across a pair of deer antlers lying beside a wilderness trail? You've discovered a single step in a yearly cycle shared by deer around the world. Antler loss, or "shedding," is a process that continues to fascinate both scientists and laypeople alike.

Shedding

After the mating season in late fall and early winter, a deer's testosterone level drops. This triggers the decay of the tissue connecting antlers to a deer's skull until the antlers fall off.

Regeneration

Come late winter or early spring, deer will begin to grow new antlers. According to the Quality Deer Management Association, antlers are the fastest growing structures in the animal kingdom, often reaching their full size in a matter of weeks.

Recycling

Shed antlers are gradually eaten by mice and other rodents. This recycles the minerals composing the antlers back into the environment and keeps the woods and fields from being overcrowded with fallen antlers.

Collectibles

Shed antlers are also picked up and collected by people. Some groups, such Shed Hunter Outfitters, collect antlers and equip others to do the same. Most often antlers are used for decoration or bought by taxidermists.

Medicinal Uses

Antlers are also prized by some for supposed health benefits. Researchers such as Dr. Peter Fennessy, general manager of the Invermay Research Center, have found growth hormones extracted from antlers may help accelerate healing, strengthen the immune system, increase energy levels and lower blood pressure.

References

• Quality Deer Management Association: The Science Behind Sheds
• The Izaak Walton League of America: About Deer Antlers
• Whitetail Stewards Inc.: White-tailed deer antler growth and physiology

Resources

• Shed Hunter Outfitters
• Life Extension: Velvet Deer Antler