Mississippi Department of Wildlife Details Buck Antler Cycle

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has provided information on the antler cycle of male whitetail deer, known as bucks.

According to the department, during late winter and early spring, a buck’s testosterone levels decrease due to shorter daylight hours. This reduction causes the base of the antlers to erode, leading to the shedding of the old antlers.

After shedding, new antlers begin to grow as soft, living tissue covered in velvet. This growth continues through spring and summer before slowing down in late summer. As testosterone levels rise, the antlers enter the hardening phase, and the velvet starts to die off.

During this period, bucks rub their antlers on saplings and limbs to shed the velvet, which typically takes only a few hours. The hardened antlers are what hunters often see during hunting season.

The department notes that the Velvet Buck Season aligns with the time when most bucks have stopped growing antlers and are in the process of hardening them. They encourage hunters to enjoy the season, which takes place this weekend.

Photos by Rick Small are included in the department’s post.

Source: Original Article