DNR Q/A Antler sheds

[JohnWester]

Q:It is not uncommon to find antlers lying on the forest floor in the spring. Why do buck deer, bull moose and other antlered species shed their antlers?

A:Annual cycles in deer antlers are related to the changing seasons. Deer have adapted their physiology and behavior to respond to seasonal changes, including antler growth and shedding. The environmental cue that regulates antler growth is the amount of day length, or photoperiod; the physiological cue is the hormone testosterone. Simply put, the changing day lengths are sensed by the eyes, which send this message via the optic nerve to the pineal gland that is located at the base of the brain. This triggers changes in hormone production. The declining day length in late fall and early winter causes a decrease in testosterone, which results in antler shedding. The actual process of antler shedding involves the formation of a thin layer of tissue destruction that forms between the antler and the pedicle, called the abscission layer. The degeneration of the bone-to-bone bond between the antler and the pedicle is considered to be the fastest deterioration of living tissue known in the animal kingdom.

Michelle Carstensen Powell, natural resource specialist-CWD

[Spinach]

Shed hunting is a great time, this is the first year in a very long time that I haven't been out.

[Realtree]

I stumbled upon a small antler shed a few years ago, but have not found any since then. I am hoping to get out this next week and see if I can find any in our woods.   

[Grute Man]

I took the Grute kids to the MN Deer Classic and this guy had 3 deer down on the main floor.  Well one had just shed his antlers that day.  Looked pretty sore where the antlers came off.  I had always thought it would look like bone there but it looked like flesh that was scabbing over.

[luvnlife]

Hours and hours out in the woods and I still have not found a shed.  I guess its the anticipation of finding a giant that keeps me going, a person never knows.......LUVNLIFE

Thanks for posting the info BFG

[TNT]

Just today,
sun, april 1st, no pun intended, or april fools joke, but some of  the bucks up here are still carring their antlers. seen three bucks come through the back yard and head to the feed area and they still were sporting head gear, latest i've ever seen them carry.

[Mayfly]

Ok......I'm going to give it 1 hr tomorrow!