Bucks Starting to Shed Antlers
There is a remarkable act of nature starting to take place any day now. A few years ago, I was turkey hunting when I saw something that fascinated me. As I sat overlooking a food plot, a deer stepped out 40 yards or so away, followed by a second and then a third deer. They lingered just long enough for me to get a good look at them, but there was no time to snap a photo.
The interesting thing I noticed about these three deer, something I’d never seen before, was that all three were bucks that had only recently shed their antlers. Each of the three had prominent circles – pedicles – on their heads where last year’s antlers had grown.
Somewhere back in the woods, there would have been a prize to find: the dropped antlers from these three.
When we’re out there deer hunting and a buck steps out, our only interest in antlers is the size of the rack.
Is it a trophy or one with a smaller rack that indicates it’s a young deer? If a small rack, most of us let the youngster walk, realizing that next year, that little basket-racked six-point buck may have grown an impressive set of headgear.
Here’s what happens in the world of the deer. Buck deer drop their antlers in late winter or early spring. Soon after losing their headgear, they start growing a new set of antlers they’ll have until this time next year. This new set begins as fuzzy knobs growing on the pedicles, which are located on the buck’s head between his eyes and ears. The newly formed antlers are soft and subject to damage, and for this reason, bucks are shy and reclusive; they’re protective of this new growth.
A couple of months before shedding antlers, bucks use them to hook and thrash bushes, brush, and small saplings and to fight other bucks to establish dominance. Bushes and bucks are in no danger of being gored and thrashed in spring and summer because he is protecting his newly forming soft antlers.
According to a source I read about the growth of deer antlers, velvet is described as “vascular skin that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone.” This amazing material causes the antler it covers to grow at an amazing rate. In fact, deer antlers grow faster than any other mammal’s bone. This fast rate of growth actually is a handicap to a buck because of the incredible nutritional demand on deer to re-grow antlers annually.
Once the antlers achieve their full potential for the year, usually by mid-September in our part of the world, the velvet has served its purpose, and as it dries and is rubbed off on bushes by the buck, the antler bone actually dies, and here’s something I read that gave me pause. What deer hunters see when that big buck comes slipping by the stand is an animal sporting a head full of dead bone.
A fun activity many deer hunters like to pursue now that hunting seasons are over is to search for dropped antlers. There is a measure of excitement to hold in your hands the headgear of a big buck that will whet your appetite for what he’ll look like once hunting seasons roll around again this coming fall.
The entire process of bucks growing velvet-covered, delicate antlers to them becoming hardened and eventually being shed, just to do it all again every year, is one of nature’s most amazing and fascinating activities.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are beginning to move up as the day warms with lipless crank baits starting to produce. Crappie have moved up in response to warmer temps anticipating the spawn in a few weeks. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE –Crappie are hanging out around the brush with spawning time just around the corner. Bass are in the timber and flipping jigs is picking up some fish.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Fishing overall is slow for bass and crappie. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are starting to move up preparing for the spawn. Jigs and crank baits are picking up some. Crappie are moving up around brush and timber and some are being caught on shiners and jigs.. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are beginning to move away from the deeper water and startng to hang out around mid-depth brush. Jigs and shiners are picking up some. Bass are hitting crank baits, spinners and soft plastics around brush . For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good while crappie and bass are still on the slow side. For information, call the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake level is on a slight rise. Buffalo and catfish are being caught in nets. Bass and crappie haven’t kicked in yet. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.