Killed My First Ever Pronghorn, "Ivory" Tips?

[RugerHawg413]

I killed my first pronghorn this week, and as I approached I noticed he had white or "ivory" (I know that it is not really ivory) on the tip of his horns. What does that signify? Does that mean that he was older? How many pronghorn have this? I posted a photo below. Thank you so much!!

 

[6mm Remington]

You really should post a picture or two! In what I have observed I've seen Ivory tips on mostly more mature bucks with some age on them. Not always but that's the one's you usually see that show up on.

 

[RugerHawg413]

You really should post a picture or two! In what I have observed I've seen Ivory tips on mostly more mature bucks with some age on them. Not always but that's the one's you usually see that show up on.

I forgot to take a close up photo of the horns. But here's one.

 

[flinchy]

Nice buck.. cool ivory tips.

 

[RugerHawg413]

Nice buck.. cool ivory tips.

Yeah, I know that they are hard to see. They are smaller than some I have seen as well.

 

[SG25]

Congrats! Pretty cool!

 

[walking buffalo]

The "Ivory tip" is the very first growth of keratin from the horn core in the production of the new horn, which starts growing Before the existing horn is shed in early winter.

Some info on Pronghorn horn growth can be found here.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=AV...IQzAJ#v=onepage&q=ivory tips on horns&f=false

 

[sep0667]

I was with a group of about 11 hunters. It seemed like and even split of bucks that had it and did not. I like the 'ivory' tips, looks cool.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Doesn't hold any special significance as far as I know. my Wyoming pronghorns have had it more than my Colorado ones, but I have 2.5 year olds with it and 4.5+ without from both states.

 

[Slate]

congrats

 

[stonegraham]

I forgot to take a close up photo of the horns. But here's one.View attachment 158150

good job, nice buck