antlerradar
Well-known member
Over the years I have been fortunate to be able to watch or find antlers from about 2 dozen bucks that reached old age. The prevailing wisdom is that after age six or seven bucks antlers start to regress back to a big two or three point if they get old enough. I believe this in more myth than reality.
None of the bucks I have watched have grown antlers that have fallowed this pattern. Most of the bucks I have watched have grown larger antlers until the age of six and then maintained or gotten slightly bigger for three to five years. Some times a bad winter or drought would cause a slight dip in antler size but the next year they would come back as big as ever. If their antlers regressed most of the bucks did not make the winter. I have only seen one deer that had two years of regressed antlers and during the second year he look very poor. I think he was 12 or 13 and his best set was at age 10.
Some of the bucks had a slightly smaller year at age seven but came back two have better sets at age eight. I think that the decline may be do to rut stress during the prime of life and as they get older they are less active during the rut and antler size increases.
I think most of the big bodied old bucks with smaller antlers are not regressing but most likely have had small antlers all of their life.
I have attached pictures of some of the bucks I have found several years worth of antlers from.
The first buck lived to age eight. He increased in size until age 7( the unmatched 4 point) but came back to grow his best set at age eight.
The second buck lived to age nine. He lost a lot of antler size at age five( a very tough winter). Bigger at age six He was a bit smaller at age seven but much bigger at age eight. His antlers at age nine are just slightly better than age eight.
I believe the mule deer died at age 10 or 11. He lost about 20 inches of antler in the year he died but he still grosses a sold 180. The previous three years(the bottom row) are his best and nearly identical in size.
What do you think? Has any one seen any studies that support antler size regressing after age six or seven?
Antlerradar
None of the bucks I have watched have grown antlers that have fallowed this pattern. Most of the bucks I have watched have grown larger antlers until the age of six and then maintained or gotten slightly bigger for three to five years. Some times a bad winter or drought would cause a slight dip in antler size but the next year they would come back as big as ever. If their antlers regressed most of the bucks did not make the winter. I have only seen one deer that had two years of regressed antlers and during the second year he look very poor. I think he was 12 or 13 and his best set was at age 10.
Some of the bucks had a slightly smaller year at age seven but came back two have better sets at age eight. I think that the decline may be do to rut stress during the prime of life and as they get older they are less active during the rut and antler size increases.
I think most of the big bodied old bucks with smaller antlers are not regressing but most likely have had small antlers all of their life.
I have attached pictures of some of the bucks I have found several years worth of antlers from.
The first buck lived to age eight. He increased in size until age 7( the unmatched 4 point) but came back to grow his best set at age eight.
The second buck lived to age nine. He lost a lot of antler size at age five( a very tough winter). Bigger at age six He was a bit smaller at age seven but much bigger at age eight. His antlers at age nine are just slightly better than age eight.
I believe the mule deer died at age 10 or 11. He lost about 20 inches of antler in the year he died but he still grosses a sold 180. The previous three years(the bottom row) are his best and nearly identical in size.
What do you think? Has any one seen any studies that support antler size regressing after age six or seven?
Antlerradar
