Ask The Biologist

You might be surprised at how quickly bucks start growing new antlers.

QUESTION: I was out shed hunting in late March and was able to slip up to a group of deer. I noticed one was a buck and I could already see its antlers regrowing. That seemed early. My question is, when do bucks typically start growing antlers?

ANSWER: Deer antlers are among the fastest growing tissues in nature. They have to be, because bucks grow a new set every year and they need to be fully grown and ready for action when fall rolls around.

Growth actually begins almost as soon as the old set is shed but typically starts out slowly as bucks are still recovering from the previous rut and winter food scarcity.

The onset of rapid growth varies somewhat with latitude but usually kicks in around late April or early May. There may also be some variability depending on when an individual buck shed its antlers and the severity of the winter. Growth continues over the next four months, tapering off then ceasing as the days grow shorter.

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