Poor antler strength/ Deformed..

[kwaldeier]

What causes antlers to break in the velvet phase? I have had deer this year and last grow bigger racks and then have 1 or 2 points just droop down.I would say poor diet but they have an abundance of corn, beans, water, acorns, etc...
Also I have three deer that are deformed without injury. 2 Big deer that I hope come out of it and one lost cause.. Thoughts? I'll post pictures when I can!

[ Post made via Android ]

[backstraps]

I have seen bucks with injured antlers carry huge deformities all summer. When it comes time for the antler to mineralize and harden, once the velvet begins to dry, the antler will drop the injured section completely off. Not always but often. I will see if I can locate some pictures of a couple bucks that had drastic injuries and made really cool bucks with lots of characteristics. One I have been watching this summer, he most likely will loose a section of antler.


Here is a pretty good write up on antler development I copied and pasted


How antlers grow

Deer grow and shed antlers annually. Males typically begin growing a new set of antlers in late spring. Growth starts at the pedicle, which is the antler growing base attached to the skull. Antler growth is regulated by hormones, which are controlled by photoperiod (day length). The antler growth cycle coincides with the breeding season, so that males have hardened antlers for fighting other males, subsequently establishing dominance and breeding privileges.

Growing day length corresponds to a reduction in melatonin production, which initiates the hormone cycles responsible for antler growth. Throughout late spring and summer, antlers are equipped with a very rich blood supply and are covered with a hairlike membrane commonly known as velvet. While “in velvet,” antlers are particularly vulnerable to injury, and cuts or bruises suffered at this time often result in deformed antlers.

Growing antlers are high in water and low in dry matter content. The composition of the dry matter portion during this stage is 80 percent protein and 20 percent ash (primarily calcium and phosphorus). By August, growth slows and the antlers begin to mineralize, or harden. In late August or early September, growth is completed and blood ceases to flow to the antlers. This process initiates drying of the velvet, which is then sloughed or rubbed off, resulting in polished, hard antlers during the breeding season. The velvet shedding occurs rapidly, usually in less than 24 hours. The velvet will fall off on its own, but the process is accelerated by rubbing antlers on small woody shrubs or even tall grass. Healthy males maintain their hardened antlers throughout the breeding season.

The composition of antlers change, as hardened antlers are high in dry matter and low in water content. Dry matter content of hardened antlers is composed of about 60 percent ash and 40 percent protein. After the breeding season, cells start to de-mineralize the bone between the pedicle and antler, causing the antler’s connection with the skull to weaken and the antler to fall off. Timing of antler-drop may vary, but in an average season, some males shed their antlers in late December and most have shed them by early March. Once a deer sheds its antlers, new growth starts immediately, though visible antler growth is sometimes not apparent for several weeks. Shed antlers are often difficult to find in the woods because they have a high protein content and an abundance of calcium phosphate and are quickly consumed by rodents.


Velvet injury is very common. During the growing phase antlers are very soft and, therefore, vulnerable to injury. Velvet injuries can cause deformations in the hardened antler, including small points known as “kicker” or “sticker” points. Some velvet injuries may result in an oddly bent antler caused by an injury during the velvet stage that was able to maintain its blood supply and hardened into a polished antler (Figure 9). Extreme velvet injuries may cause the breakage and subsequent loss of a main beam, point or entire antler. Males that experience such injuries typically make a full recovery the following year and grow a normal set of antlers. However, these injuries can develop infections, causing potential health problems.

[backstraps]

Here is one inside a military installation with an injury this year:

[cbigbear]

So mostly likely that drop is going to fall off? It's my dream to kill one with a big drop. It'd be my luck to locate one & then come velvet shed he'd lose it!!!!!

[Stanley]

I think injuries to an antlers are sometimes carried over to the following years. So a deformity could be a result of an injury a few years ago.

[backstraps]

I think injuries to an antlers are sometimes carried over to the following years. So a deformity could be a result of an injury a few years ago.

A bodily injury for sure. Ive got pictures of a buck that sustained an injury to his left leg at age 2 and his right antler at age 3 and 4 were both deformed. He must have gotten killed or relocated outside of an area we were researching.


Injuries to antler under development themselves, I have not seen them carry over beyond the year of antler injury.

[backstraps]

So mostly likely that drop is going to fall off? It's my dream to kill one with a big drop. It'd be my luck to locate one & then come velvet shed he'd lose it!!!!!

I think this particular one has a chance of keeping the injured area. Wont know for several weeks still... If he keeps the drop and I can get ahold of some pictures, I will post them.

[kwaldeier]

Here is what i got-
Nice buck Before


Nice Buck after a point got weak/destroyed



Deformed


Not typical growth on his g2/g3(?)



MASSIVE 3x3(Illegal to shoot in MO)